An Act To Update the Statutes Governing Membership of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1111
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: LUCHINI, FARRIN, CAIAZZO
Amends: 37-B MRSA §603, 37-B MRSA §604, 37-B MRSA §606, 37-B MRSA §610

Legislative Document
No. 1111
S.P. 373
In Senate, March 22, 2021
An Act To Update the Statutes Governing Membership of the Board 
of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 18, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LUCHINI of Hancock.
Cosponsored by Senator: FARRIN of Somerset, Representative: CAIAZZO of Scarborough.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  37-B MRSA §603, as amended by PL 2015, c. 397, §10 and PL 2019, c. 
377, §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§603.  Board of trustees
1.  Administration of the homes.  The administration of the homes is vested in the 
Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes, as authorized by Title 5, section 12004-G, 
subsection 34.
2.  Appointment; composition.  The board consists of 11 members, one of whom must 
be the Director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services, ex officio, who serves without 
term.  The Governor shall appoint the remaining members.  The board shall submit a list 
of nominees to the Governor for the Governor's consideration.  The board shall request 
established veterans' service organizations with chapters in the State and organizations and 
individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields to submit names of nominees 
to the board.  The membership of the board must reflect the diversity of the State, including, 
but not limited to, diversity in geographic location, cultural and ethnic background, sexual 
orientation, gender identity and professional experience.   The majority of board members 
must be honorably discharged veterans.
3.  Terms; vacancies.  Except for the Director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans' 
Services, board members serve 3-year terms and are limited to serving 3 full terms or no 
more than 9 consecutive years.  In the event of a vacancy, a successor may be appointed to 
complete a member's unexpired term or to a new 3-year term.  Each member continues to 
hold office until a successor is appointed.
Sec. 2.  37-B MRSA §604, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 676, §2, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Meetings.  The board shall meet at least 6 4 times annually.  Six members constitute 
a quorum.
Sec. 3.  37-B MRSA §604, sub-§3, as corrected by RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. B, §44, is 
amended to read:
3.  Selection of officers.  At its first annual meeting each year, which must be held in 
July each year, the board shall elect a chair, vice-chair, treasurer and secretary for that fiscal 
year.
Sec. 4.  37-B MRSA §606, as amended by PL 2015, c. 397, §13, is further amended 
to read:
§606.  Chief executive officer
The chief executive officer must be an honorably discharged veteran who shall 
administer the homes in accordance with the rules, guidelines and general policies 
established by the board.  The chief executive officer serves an indefinite term, but may be 
removed for cause by the board.  The chief executive officer's salary is set by the board. 
The chief executive officer shall hire the necessary employees to operate the homes and, 
whenever possible, give preference in hiring to veterans. These employees are not deemed 
employees of the State.
Sec. 5.  37-B MRSA §610, 2nd ¶, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 3, §1 and amended by 
c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is repealed.
Sec. 6.  Transition.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 
603, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' Homes serving on the board 
on the effective date of this Act may serve the remainder of that member's term.
SUMMARY
This bill amends certain laws governing the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans' 
Homes.  It amends the composition of the board.  It requires the board to submit a list of 
nominees for appointment to the board to the Governor for the Governor's consideration.  
It requires the board to request certain organizations and individuals to submit to the board 
names of suggested nominees.  It limits board members to serving 3 full terms or no more 
than 9 consecutive years.  It changes the number of annual meetings from 6 to 4.  It requires 
the board to elect a vice-chair and treasurer, in addition to a chair and secretary.  It removes 
a requirement that the chief executive officer be an honorably discharged veteran.  It repeals 
a provision in law related to renovations undertaken by the Maine Veterans' Homes 
Augusta nursing facility.