Resolve, To Establish the COVID-19 Review Commission
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0817
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: KEIM, FECTEAU, BENNETT, BRADSTREET, SAMPSON

Legislative Document
No. 817
S.P. 193
In Senate, March 5, 2021
Resolve, To Establish the COVID-19 Review Commission
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator KEIM of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Representative FECTEAU of Augusta and
Senator: BENNETT of Oxford, Representatives: BRADSTREET of Vassalboro, SAMPSON 
of Alfred.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this resolve establishes the COVID-19 Review Commission to study 
executive orders related to the declared COVID-19 emergency; review contracts entered 
into related to executing the Governor's emergency proclamation and related executive 
orders and the data related to COVID-19 collected by the Department of Health and Human 
Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, including suicide attempts and 
deaths and drug-related hospitalizations and deaths; study the Maine Center for Disease 
Control and Prevention response, including testing and use of contact tracers; study the 
policies and rules connected to COVID-19 implemented by the Department of Health and 
Human Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management, Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Department of 
Economic and Community Development; and study any other COVID-19 response related 
matters as required by the commission; and
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for consideration during the 
next legislative session; and
Whereas, the commission will provide oversight of the extended use of the 
Governor's emergency powers; 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
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the COVID-19 Review 
Commission, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established.
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 12 members appointed as follows:
1. Four members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 2 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
and
2. Eight members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including 4 members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature.
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission.
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for 
the commission to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall: study the State's response to 
coronavirus disease 2019, referred to in this resolve as COVID-19, and state laws, rules 
and policies governing that response in the State, including but not limited to executive 
orders related to the declared COVID-19 emergency; review contracts entered into related 
to executing the Governor's emergency proclamation and related executive orders; review 
the data related to COVID-19 collected by the Department of Health and Human Services, 
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, including suicide attempts and deaths 
and drug-related hospitalizations and deaths; study the Maine Center for Disease Control 
and Prevention response, including testing and use of contact tracers; study the policies and 
rules connected to COVID-19 implemented by the Department of Health and Human 
Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management, Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Department of 
Economic and Community Development; and study any other matters related to the 
COVID-19 response as required by the commission.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission.
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 6, 2021, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the COVID-19 Review Commission to study the State's 
response to COVID-19 and state laws, rules and policies governing that response in the 
State.  The commission must submit a report that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services no later than December 6, 2021.