An Act To Implement the Crisis Response Services Recommendations Identified Pursuant to Resolve 2021, Chapter 29
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 2016
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Amends: 35-A MRSA §120

Legislative Document
No. 2016
H.P. 1498
House of Representatives, March 9, 2022
An Act To Implement the Crisis Response Services 
Recommendations Identified Pursuant to Resolve 2021, Chapter 29
Reported by Representative BERRY of Bowdoinham for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Resolve 2021, chapter 29, section 1.
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §120, sub-§6-A, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 236, §2, is 
amended to read:
6-A.  Microgrids.  Beginning February 1, 2025, any activities undertaken by the 
commission related to new microgrids as defined in section 3351, subsection 1, paragraph 
B, including whether any new microgrids have been approved; and
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §120, sub-§6-B is enacted to read:
6-B.  Crisis response services.  Any developments in the delivery of crisis response 
services established in connection with E-9-1-1 or other emergency response services.  As 
used in this subsection, "crisis response services" means services offered to individuals 
experiencing mental health emergencies, emergencies relating to substance use disorder or 
other emergencies for which fire, emergency medical or police services are determined not 
to be required; and
Sec. 3. Public Utilities Commission; proposed legislation. The Public Utilities 
Commission, Emergency Services Communication Bureau, in consultation with the 
Department of Public Safety, shall develop proposed legislation to implement the protocol 
and procedure recommendations for the delivery of crisis response services under the 
State's E-9-1-1 system as identified in the Emergency Services Communication Bureau 
report issued pursuant to Resolve 2021, chapter 29.  The bureau shall provide the proposed 
legislation to persons and entities affected by the proposal and allow at least 30 days for 
the submission of comments.  On or before November 2, 2022, the commission shall submit 
the proposed legislation together with all comments received by the bureau to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters. 
The committee may report out related legislation to the 131st Legislature in 2023. 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to include developments in the 
delivery of crisis response services in the commission’s annual report to the Legislature. 
The bill defines "crisis response services" as services offered to individuals experiencing 
mental health emergencies, emergencies relating to substance use disorder or other 
emergencies for which fire, emergency medical or police services are determined not to be 
required.
The bill directs the Public Utilities Commission, Emergency Services Communication 
Bureau, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety, to develop proposed 
legislation to implement the bureau's protocol and procedure recommendations for the 
delivery of crisis response services. The bureau must allow affected persons and entities to 
provide comments on the proposal. The proposed legislation and comments must be 
submitted to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
utilities and energy matters, and the committee may report out legislation in connection 
with the proposal to the 131st Legislature in 2023.