An Act To Establish the Central Aroostook County Emergency Medical Services Authority (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2050
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: CARPENTER, JOHANSEN, STEWART, WHITE

Legislative Document
No. 2050
S.P. 723
In Senate, January 16, 2020
An Act To Establish the Central Aroostook County Emergency 
Medical Services Authority
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CARPENTER of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative JOHANSEN of Monticello and
Representatives: STEWART of Presque Isle, WHITE of Washburn.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, beginning in April 2020, Mars Hill, Bridgewater and Blaine will be 
without emergency medical services; and
Whereas, this situation places the entire population of those towns at enormous risk; 
and
Whereas, it is imperative that this situation be rectified immediately; and
Whereas, in order to secure emergency medical services for Mars Hill, Bridgewater 
and Blaine it is necessary to create a quasi-municipal corporation to provide such 
services; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Establishment.  The Central Aroostook County Emergency Medical 
Services Authority, referred to in this Act as "the authority," is established to facilitate the 
provision of emergency medical services to the citizens of Mars Hill, Bridgewater and 
Blaine.
Sec. 2.  Board of directors.  The authority is governed by a board of directors, 
referred to in this Act as "the board."  The board consists of 9 members:
1.  Three from Mars Hill, selected by its municipal officers;
2.  Three from Bridgewater, selected by its municipal officers; and
3.  Three from Blaine, selected by its municipal officers.
For the purposes of this section, "municipal officers" has the same meaning as in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 2001, subsection 10.
The members of the board are appointed for terms of 2 years, except that one of the initial 
members from each municipality is appointed for a term of 3 years.  The members may 
be reappointed at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
Sec. 3.  Powers.  The authority may:
1.  Employ and compensate personnel, consultants, technical and professional 
assistants and an emergency medical services medical director;
2.  Make and enter into contracts and agreements and, pursuant to the bylaws of the 
authority, purchase or lease all vehicles and equipment necessary to provide emergency 
medical services to members;
3.  Hold public hearings and sponsor public forums;
4.  Sue and be sued in its own name;
5.  Accept funds, grants and services from federal, state, county and municipal 
governments or any agency thereof, gifts and stipends from its member towns and private 
gifts from individuals and entities; and
6.  Apply for and accept loans and allocate and disburse funds received to carry out 
the purposes of the authority.
Debts of the authority authorized under this Act do not constitute or create any debt or 
liability on behalf of the State.  Debts incurred under this Act do not directly, indirectly or 
contingently obligate the State to levy or to pledge any form of taxation or to make any 
appropriation for their payment.  This section may not be construed to prevent the 
authority from pledging its full faith and credit to the payment of loans or other debts 
authorized pursuant to this Act.
Sec. 4.  Duties.  The authority shall:
1.  Prepare an annual budget and require an annual audit that is made available for 
public inspection;
2.  Follow uniform standards provided in the Maine Revised Statutes insofar as they 
relate to Department of Public Safety rules;
3.  Make provisions for emergency medical services in Mars Hill, Bridgewater and 
Blaine and, on a contract basis, other areas where new services are to be provided; 
however, where emergency medical services are already provided by existing services, 
they are not abolished by this Act without the express consent of the governing body of 
the area where services are being provided and vote of the existing medical services' 
board;
4.  Implement a subscription membership program unless otherwise prohibited by 
law; and
5.  Set and annually adjust an approved cost-basis schedule that is uniform 
throughout Mars Hill, Bridgewater and Blaine.
Sec. 5.  Organization; conduct of business.  The board must be organized and 
its business must be conducted in accordance with the following.
1.  The board shall elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer from among its 
members.
2.  The secretary shall keep a record of the board's meetings.  These records are 
public records as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 402, subsection 
3.
3.  The treasurer shall keep records of the board's transactions.  These records are 
public records as defined in Title 1, section 402, subsection 3.
4.  The treasurer must be bonded in an amount to be determined by the board.
5.  A quorum of the board is established in the bylaws of the authority and must 
include the chair or vice-chair and the secretary or treasurer of the board.
6.  The board shall adopt such bylaws and mission statements as are necessary for the 
legal operation and proper management of the authority.
Sec. 6.  Meetings.  The bylaws must establish the annual meeting of the board.  
Additional meetings may be scheduled at the call of the chair or at the written request of 
any 5 members of the board.
A member who fails to attend board meetings 5 consecutive times may be replaced 
by the appointing authority.  Notification of such absences from the secretary of the board 
to the appointing authority is sufficient to trigger the appointment of a replacement board 
member by the appointing authority.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes 
effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Central Aroostook County Emergency Medical Services 
Authority to facilitate the provision of emergency medical services to the citizens of Mars 
Hill, Bridgewater and Blaine.  The bill includes an emergency preamble and an 
emergency clause.