An Act To Establish That the Provision of Emergency Medical Services by an Ambulance Service Is an Essential Service and To Establish the Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Emergency Medical Services in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1988
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, MOORE, CARDONE, MARTIN, NEWELL, PLUECKER, SALISBURY, BAILEY, DESCHAMBAULT, POULIOT
Amends: 32 MRSA §86-A

Legislative Document
No. 1988
H.P. 1474
House of Representatives, February 16, 2022
An Act To Establish That the Provision of Emergency Medical 
Services by an Ambulance Service Is an Essential Service and To 
Establish the Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Emergency 
Medical Services in the State
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: CARDONE of Bangor, MARTIN of Greene, NEWELL of the 
Passamaquoddy Tribe, PLUECKER of Warren, SALISBURY of Westbrook, Senators: 
BAILEY of York, DESCHAMBAULT of York, POULIOT of Kennebec.
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 legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order to provide sufficient time for the study established in this legislation to be 
completed; 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.  32 MRSA §86-A is enacted to read:
§86-A.  Ambulance services are essential services
For purposes of eligibility for federal funding, emergency medical services provided 
by an ambulance service are essential services and as essential as services provided by a 
fire department or law enforcement agency.
Sec. 2. Establishment of Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Emergency 
Medical Services in the State.
1. Blue ribbon commission established. The Blue Ribbon Commission To Study 
Emergency Medical Services in the State, referred to in this section as "the commission," 
is established. 
2. Commission membership. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the commission 
consists of 13 members:
A. Six members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
(1) Two members of the Senate, including one member of the party holding the 
largest number of seats in the Legislature and one member of the party holding the 
2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
(2) Two members who are employed or volunteer in the field of emergency 
medical services, including one member who represents a community of 10,000 
residents or more and one member who represents a community of fewer than 
10,000 residents;
(3) One member from the Department of Public Safety nominated by the Governor 
at the President’s request; and
(4) One member who represents a private, for-profit ambulance service;
B. Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
(1) Four members of the House of Representatives, including 2 members of the 
party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and 2 members of the 
party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
(2) One member who represents a tribal emergency medical service; and 
(3) One member who represents a volunteer emergency medical service; and
C. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee. 
3. Chairs. The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named 
House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission.
4. Appointments; convening of commission. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, all 
appointments must be made no later than 15 days following the effective date of this Act. 
The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
once all appointments have been completed. Within 15 days after appointment of all 
members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission, which must 
be no later than 30 days following the appointment of all members. 
5. Duties. The commission shall examine and make recommendations on the support 
of and delivery of emergency medical services in the State.  The commission may look at 
all aspects of emergency medical services, including but not limited to workforce 
development, training, compensation, retention, costs, reimbursement rates, organization 
and local and state support. 
6. Staff assistance. The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services 
to the commission, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the 
Legislature is in regular or special session. 
7. Report. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than December 7, 2022, the 
commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over public safety matters. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides that for purposes of eligibility for federal funding, emergency 
medical services provided by an ambulance service are essential services. It also establishes 
the Blue Ribbon Commission To Study Emergency Medical Services in the State. The 
commission must examine and make recommendations on the support of and delivery of 
emergency medical services in the State and may look at all aspects of emergency medical 
services, including but not limited to workforce development, training, compensation, 
retention, costs, reimbursement rates, organization and local and state support. No later 
than December 7, 2022, the commission must submit a report that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over public safety matters.