An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission and to Reestablish the Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2274
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Amends: 37-B MRSA §518

Legislative Document
No. 2274
S.P. 990
In Senate, March 21, 2024
An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Gagetown 
Harmful Chemical Study Commission and to Reestablish the 
Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission
(EMERGENCY)
Reported by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 353, subsection 8.
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, many individuals affected by exposure to harmful chemicals at the 
Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New Brunswick are suffering from illnesses 
that shorten life expectancy, and others are already deceased; and
Whereas, there have been numerous previous attempts to gather reliable data and to 
secure the recognition and help these individuals deserve, and these attempts have failed; 
and
Whereas, expedient action is necessary to help those most immediately affected and 
to ensure that the necessary recognition and supports are in place for those who have been 
exposed to harmful chemicals at the base but who are not yet aware of the effects of that 
exposure on their health; 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.  37-B MRSA §518 is enacted to read:
§518.  Base Gagetown Training Registry
1. Registry.  The bureau shall establish the Base Gagetown Training Registry, referred 
to in this section as "the registry," to collect and maintain data related to military service 
and health conditions from individuals who voluntarily provide such data and who trained 
at the Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada, referred to 
in this section as "Base Gagetown," as a member of the United States Armed Forces, as a 
member of the reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or as a member of 
the National Guard of any state and who are residents of this State or were residents of this 
State at the time of training. 
The bureau shall use the registry to support education and outreach efforts as described in 
subsection 3 for issues directly related to the individuals described in this subsection and 
may use the data collected and maintained pursuant to this subsection to conduct, either 
within the bureau or through a contract with a public or private entity, research related to 
the effects of chemical exposure on human health. 
2. Data collection.  To the extent possible, the bureau shall include in the registry the 
following types of data for individuals described in subsection 1:
A. Complete name used while in military service;
B. Date of birth;
C. Dates of military service;
D. Branch of service and all unit assignments;
E. Military occupational specialty;
F. Dates during military service when the individual trained at Base Gagetown;
G. Self-reported health conditions or diagnoses; 
H. Cause of death, if applicable; and
I. Any additional information as determined by the bureau to support the goals of the 
registry.
In the event that an individual is deceased, the individual's next of kin may provide the data 
for inclusion in the registry. The bureau shall also include any information in any existing 
data source created within the bureau related to Base Gagetown in the registry and in 
conducting education and outreach as described in subsection 3.
3. Education and outreach.  The bureau shall make all reasonable efforts to identify 
eligible individuals for inclusion in the registry. These efforts must include the bureau's 
contacting any individual who previously provided information to the bureau related to the 
individual's military training at Base Gagetown regarding the registry under subsection 1 
and offering the individual the opportunity to provide new or additional information to the 
bureau for inclusion in the registry.  The bureau shall also work with existing veterans' 
service organizations, local medical centers operated by the United States Department of 
Veterans Affairs, the Maine Veterans' Homes and other veterans' programs or organizations 
in the State in order to increase awareness of the registry and the bureau's work, including 
information on how to submit data for inclusion in the registry. The bureau shall also work 
with the Maine National Guard in order to identify and share information regarding the 
registry with individuals who are current members of the Maine National Guard and who 
may have trained at or will train in the future at Base Gagetown. 
The bureau may also contact another state's bureau of veterans' services or National Guard 
in order to identify other National Guard units that may have members who are affected by 
exposure to chemicals at Base Gagetown.
4. Confidentiality.  All data within the registry under this section is confidential. 
Disclosure of the data may be made only with the written consent of the individual who is 
the subject of the data, or if that individual is deceased, the individual's next of kin and only 
to a public or private entity, including the bureau, engaged in research related to the effects 
of chemical exposure on human health.
5. Report.  The director shall submit annually by February 15th to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans affairs a report regarding 
the status of the registry and information related to education and outreach efforts pursuant 
to subsection 3, including outreach efforts with other states; any obstacles to data collection 
or data verification; and any recommended next steps regarding the registry or the use of 
data collected as a part of the registry. The joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over veterans affairs may report out a bill related to the report during 
the legislative session in which the report is received.
Sec. 2.  Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission reestablished.  The 
Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission, referred to in this section as "the study 
commission," is established.
1. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the study commission consists of 12 members 
appointed as follows:
A.  Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the 
Legislature;
B.  Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of 
seats in the Legislature;
C.  Two members who represent veterans' advocacy organizations, one appointed by 
the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House;
D.  One member who is a family member of a veteran who served at the Canadian 
military support base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada, appointed by the 
President of the Senate;
E.  One member with expertise processing veterans' claims for benefits related to 
military service-related exposure to harmful chemicals, appointed by the Speaker of 
the House; 
F.  Two members who served at the Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New 
Brunswick, Canada and were exposed to harmful chemicals during their military 
service, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker 
of the House; and
G.  Two members with expertise in chemical engineering, environmental science or 
human health and who have experience in those fields related to the effects of 
hazardous chemicals on the environment or on human health, one appointed by the 
President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House.
2. The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of 
Representatives member is the House chair of the study commission.
3. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of 
this Act. To the extent possible, members appointed to the study commission must be the 
same as members appointed to the study commission pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 
95.  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 study commission.  If 30 days or 
more after the effective date of this Act a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for 
the study commission to meet and conduct its business.
4. The study commission shall study the effects of exposure to harmful chemicals on 
individuals who trained at the Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New 
Brunswick, Canada as a member of the United States Armed Forces, as a member of the 
reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or as a member of the National 
Guard of any state.
5. The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the study 
commission, except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the 
Legislature is in regular or special session.
6. No later than November 6, 2024, the study commission shall submit a report that 
includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, for 
presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
veterans affairs.  The committee may report out a bill based on the recommendations to the 
132nd Legislature in 2025.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Base Gagetown Training Registry within the Department of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services to 
collect and maintain data related to military service and health conditions from individuals 
who voluntarily provide such data and who have trained at the Canadian military support 
base in Gagetown, New Brunswick.
The bill also reestablishes the Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission.