Resolve, to Establish the Task Force to Study Changes to the Legal Status of Scheduled Drugs
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1975
Committee Amendment CA_A_H931 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A''toH.P.1266, L.D. 1975, "AnActtolmplement 
a Statewide Public Health Response to Substance Use and Amend the Laws Governing 
Scheduled Drugs" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, to Establish the Task Force to Study Changes to the Legal Status of 
Scheduled Drugs' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'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 establishes the Task Force to Study Changes to the Legal 
Status of Scheduled Drugs; and 
Whereas, this legislation must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period 
so that the task force may timely meet and make its report to the Legislature; 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. Task Force established. Resolved: That the Task Force to Study Changes 
to the Legal Status of Scheduled Drugs, referred to in this resolve as "the task force/ is 
established. 
Sec. 2. Task Force membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the task force consists of 16 members as follows: 
1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President 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; 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~\" to H.P. 1266, L.D. 1975 
2, Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, 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; 
3, A representative of the substance use disorder harm reduction community, appointed 
by the President of the Senate; 
4. A representative of the substance use disorder prevention community, appointed by 
the President of the Senate; 
5, A representative of a civil rights organization whose primary mission includes the 
advancement of social justice, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
6. A representative of the substance use disorder treatment community, appointed by 
the Speaker of the House; 
7. A representative of the substance use disorder recove1y community, appointed by 
the Speaker of the House; 
8, The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee; 
9, The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee; 
10, The Commissioner of Public Safety or the commissioner's designee; 
11. The president of the Maine Prosecutors' Association or the president's designee; 
12, The president of the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers or the 
president's designee; 
13, The president of the Maine Sheriffs' Association or the president's designee; and 
14, The president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association or the president's designee. 
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 task force, 
Sec. 4. 
Appointments; convening of task force. 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 task force, If 3 0 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 task 
force to meet and conduct its business, 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall: 
1. Review activities in other states that address the decriminalization or the increase 
in legal possession limits of scheduled drugs; 
2. 
Review scholarly research on the decriminalization or the increase in legal 
possession limits of scheduled drugs; 
3, Consider the impact of decriminalizing or increasing legal possession limits of 
scheduled drugs on: 
A. Public health and safety, including on the incidence of overdose; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1266, L.D. 1975 
B. The criminal justice system, including on drug cou1ts; 
C. Access to substance use disorder treatment; and 
D. Child welfare and the incidence of domestic violence; and 
4. 
Consider how deflection and diversion from the criminal justice system of 
individuals with substance use disorder impacts the sh01t-term and long-term outcomes of 
those individuals. 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the task force, except that Legislative Council staff support 
is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session. 
Sec, 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than November 6, 2024, the task force 
shall submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services a report that includes its 
findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation. The joint standing 
committees may repo1t out legislation related to the report to the 13 2nd Legislature in 2025. 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved,' 
Amend the bill by relettedng or renumbering any nonconsecutive Pait letter or section 
number to read consecutively, 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve and adds an emergency preamble and 
clause, The amendment establishes the Task Force to Study Changes to the Legal Status 
of Scheduled Drugs, The task force consists of 16 members, and its duties include review. 
of activities in other states that address the decriminalization or the increase in legal 
possession limits of scheduled drugs; review of scholarly research on the decriminalization· 
or the increase in legal possession limits of scheduled drugs; consideration of the impact of 
decriminalizing or increasing legal possession limits of scheduled drugs on public health 
and safety, including on the incidence of overdose; consideration of the impact of , 
decriminalizing or increasing legal possession limits of scheduled drugs on the criminal 
justice system, including on drug courts; consideration of the impact of decriminalizing or • 
increasing legal possession limits of scheduled drugs on access to substance use disorder 
treatment; consideration of how deflection and diversion from the criminal justice system 1 
of individuals with substance use disorder impacts the sh01t-term and long-term outcomes 
of those individuals; and consideration of the impacts of decriminalizing or increasing legal ' 
possession limits of scheduled drugs on child welfare and the incidence of domestic·, 
violence. No later than November 6, 2024, the task force must submit to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and to the Joint Standing Committee on • 
Health and Human Services a report that includes its findings and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation. The joint standing committees may rep01t out legislation 
related to the repo1t to the 132nd Legislature in 2025. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/01/24 ~ae 
LD 1975 
LR 1689(02) 
An Act to Implement a Statewide Public Health Response to Substance Use and Amend the Laws 
Governing Scheduled Drugs 
Legislative Cost/Study 
• Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ':A:' C H ~ '1 's \) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $1,400 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $1,650 in fiscal 
year 2024-:25. The Legislature's budget for the 2024-2025 biennium includes $14,500 in each of fiscal years 2023 , 
and 2024-25 for the costs of legislative studies, as well as $38,909 of balances ca11'ied over from prior years for th,_ 
purpose. Whether these amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by 
the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during 
the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Office of the Attorney General;the Department of Public Safety and the Department of 
Health and Human Services associated with participating on the taskforce are expected to be minor and can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LRl 689(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1