An Act to Reorganize the Emergency Medical Services' Board to
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2128
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: BAILEY
Amends: 32 MRSA §88, 32 MRSA §89

Legislative Document
No. 2128
S.P. 817
In Senate, January 7, 2026
An Act to Reorganize the Emergency Medical Services' Board to 
Implement the Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission to 
Study Emergency Medical Services in the State
Submitted by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 203.
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BAILEY of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §88, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 370, §16, is further 
amended to read:
A.  The board has one member representing each region, each of whom is appointed 
by the representative's regional council, and 12 5 persons in addition.  Of the additional 
persons, one is an emergency physician, one a representative of emergency medical 
dispatch providers, one a representative of the public, one a representative of for-profit 
ambulance services, one an emergency professional nurse, one a representative of 
nontransporting emergency medical services, one a representative of hospitals, one a 
fire chief, one a representative of a statewide association of fire chiefs, one a municipal 
emergency medical services provider, one a representative of not-for-profit ambulance 
services and one a representative in the field of pediatrics.  The members that represent 
for-profit ambulance services, nontransporting emergency medical services and not-
for-profit ambulance services must be licensed emergency medical services persons. 
One of the nonpublic members must be a volunteer emergency medical services 
provider a representative of an emergency medical dispatch center or emergency 
medical dispatch provider, one is a representative of a municipal administration, one is 
a representative of emergency medical services administrators, one is an emergency 
medical services paramedic licensed in the State and one is an emergency medical 
technician or advanced emergency medical technician licensed in the State.  
Appointments are for 3-year terms.  Members, except the regional representatives and 
ex officio members, are appointed by the Governor.  The statewide emergency medical 
services medical director and, the statewide associate emergency medical services 
medical director and the commissioner or the commissioner's designee are ex officio 
nonvoting members of the board.
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §88, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 1991, c. 588, §16, is further 
amended to read:
B.  The board shall elect its own chair to serve for a 2-year term.  The board may adopt 
internal rules that may include, but are not limited to, termination of board membership 
as a consequence of irregular attendance.  If a board member appointed by the 
Governor does not serve a full term of appointment, the Governor shall appoint a 
successor to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.  If a board member 
appointed by a regional council does not serve a full term of appointment, the regional 
council that appointed the board member shall appoint a successor to fill the vacancy 
for the remainder of the term. Any board member may be removed by the Governor 
for cause.  The board may have a common seal.  The board may establish 
subcommittees as it determines appropriate.
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §88, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 1991, c. 588, §16, is further 
amended to read:
C.  The board shall meet at least quarterly, and at the call of its chair or at the request 
of 7 5 members.  When the board meets, members are entitled to compensation 
according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379.
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §88, sub-§2, ¶M is enacted to read:
M.  The board shall by January 1st annually submit a report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over emergency medical services 
matters with any recommendations for changes to this chapter and in related provisions 
as the board may determine appropriate. The committee may report out legislation 
related to the recommendations in the report.
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §89, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 274, §21, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Regions to be established; regional councils.  The board shall delineate regions 
within the State to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The board shall set out conditions 
under which an organization in each region may be recognized by the board as the regional 
council for that region.  A regional council shall, at a minimum, provide adequate 
representation for ambulance services and rescue nontransporting emergency medical 
services, emergency room physicians and nurses, hospitals emergency medical dispatch 
centers and emergency medical dispatchers, emergency medical services training centers 
and the general public.  A regional council must be structured to adequately represent each 
major geographical part of its region.  Only one regional council may be recognized in any 
region.
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §89, sub-§2, ¶F, as amended by PL 2007, c. 274, §21, is further 
amended to read:
F.  Nominating 2 or more candidates Appointing a candidate from each region for a 
position on the Emergency Medical Services' Board, from whom the Governor may 
select a member board; and
Sec. 7.  32 MRSA §89, sub-§2, ¶G, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 730, §§13 and 16, is 
amended to read:
G.  Establishing regional goals to carry out the provisions of this chapter.; and
Sec. 8.  32 MRSA §89, sub-§2, ¶H is enacted to read:
H.  Regularly advising the representative to the board on issues, concerns and policies 
affecting the region that the council represents.
Sec. 9.  Transition.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 
88, subsection 1, a member of the Emergency Medical Services' Board serving on the 
effective date of this Act continues to serve until the expiration of that member's term.
SUMMARY
This bill, based on the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study 
Emergency Medical Services in the State, reduces the number of members appointed to the 
Emergency Medical Services' Board, other than the members representing regional 
councils, from 12 to 5, provides for regular feedback and recommendations from each 
region and requires the board to report annually by January 1st to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over emergency medical services matters 
any recommended changes to the Maine Emergency Medical Services Act of 1982 or other 
necessary changes to improve the provision of emergency medical services and allows the 
committee to report out legislation based on the board's recommendations.