An Act To Enhance Safety on College and University Campuses by Allowing Firearms To Be Carried on the Campuses of Public Colleges and Universities
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1370
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: CEBRA, BRAKEY, ESPLING, HARRINGTON, KINNEY, LOCKMAN, O'CONNOR, SANDERSON, TIMBERLAKE, DAVIS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10009

Legislative Document
No. 1370
H.P. 949
House of Representatives, April 11, 2017
An Act To Enhance Safety on College and University Campuses by 
Allowing Firearms To Be Carried on the Campuses of Public 
Colleges and Universities
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CEBRA of Naples.
Cosponsored by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin and
Representatives: ESPLING of New Gloucester, HARRINGTON of Sanford, KINNEY of 
Knox, LOCKMAN of Amherst, O'CONNOR of Berwick, SANDERSON of Chelsea, 
TIMBERLAKE of Turner, Senator: DAVIS of Piscataquis.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §10009, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 170, §1, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section the following terms have the following 
meanings. 
A.  "College or university" means any postsecondary educational institution, 
including: 
(1)  Any degree-granting educational institution regulated under chapter 409; 
(2)  Any university in the University of Maine System; 
(3)  Any college in the Maine Community College System; and 
(4)  The Maine Maritime Academy. 
B.  "Public entertainment facility" means an arena, stadium, amphitheater, 
auditorium, theater or similar facility with a seating capacity of at least 1,000 persons 
that is owned or operated by the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine 
System, the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System or the Board 
of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy and that is primarily designed and used 
for artistic, theatrical, cultural, charitable, musical, sporting or entertainment events 
but does not include publicly accessible outdoor grounds or rights-of-way 
appurtenant to the facility, including parking lots within the facility used for the 
parking of motor vehicles. 
C.  "Student dormitory or residence hall" means a building owned or operated by the 
Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of Trustees of the 
Maine Community College System or the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime 
Academy located on or within the campus area owned by the university or college to 
house persons residing on campus as students.  "Student dormitory or residence hall" 
does not include off-campus housing or publicly accessible outdoor grounds or 
rights-of-way appurtenant to the building, including parking lots within the building 
used for the parking of motor vehicles. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §10009, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  Rules.  The Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of 
Trustees of the Maine Community College System and the Board of Trustees of the 
Maine Maritime Academy may adopt rules and establish policies relating to firearms. 
A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rules adopted and policies 
established pursuant to this subsection may not regulate or prohibit the otherwise 
lawful possession, carrying or transporting of firearms or ammunition by a person 
issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, chapter 252 or a person 
who may carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, 
paragraph A-1. 
B.  Notwithstanding paragraph A, a person issued a permit to carry a concealed 
handgun under Title 25, chapter 252 or a person who may carry a concealed handgun 
under Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, paragraph A-1 may not carry a 
concealed weapon: 
(1)  Within a student dormitory or residence hall; or 
(2)  Within any building of a public entertainment facility, as long as signs are 
conspicuously posted at each point of public ingress to the facility notifying 
attendees of any restriction on the possession of firearms in the facility during a 
game or event. 
C.  The provisions of paragraph B do not apply to the following persons: 
(1)  A person or persons complying with the provisions of Title 17-A, section 
108; 
(2)  A person or an employee who is authorized to carry a firearm by the Board 
of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the Board of Trustees of the 
Maine Community College System or the Board of Trustees of the Maine 
Maritime Academy or a person or entity with authority over the building or 
facility; 
(3)  A person who possesses a firearm for authorized use in an approved 
program, event, activity or other circumstance approved by a person or entity 
with authority over the building or facility; 
(4)  A person who possesses a firearm in a private motor vehicle while delivering 
students, employees or other persons to and from a university, college or public 
entertainment facility; and 
(5)  An on-duty or off-duty law enforcement officer. 
D.  A rule or policy that is contrary to this subsection is void. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System, the 
Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System and the Board of Trustees of 
the Maine Maritime Academy may adopt rules and establish policies relating to firearms 
except that these rules and policies may not regulate or prohibit the otherwise lawful 
possession, carrying or transporting of firearms or ammunition by a person issued a 
permit to carry a concealed handgun under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 25, chapter 
or a person who may carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, section 2001-A, 
subsection 2, paragraph A-1.  The bill also provides, with certain exceptions, that a 
person issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, chapter 252 or a 
person who may carry a concealed handgun under Title 25, section 2001-A, subsection 2, 
paragraph A-1 may not carry a concealed weapon within a student dormitory or residence 
hall or within a building of a public entertainment facility at which signs are 
conspicuously posted at entrances notifying attendees of any restriction on the possession 
of firearms in the facility during a game or event.