An Act to Establish the Maine Emergency Medical Services
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1599
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: SALISBURY, TALBOT ROSS
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-J, 32 MRSA §99

Legislative Document
No. 1599
H.P. 1057
House of Representatives, April 10, 2025
An Act to Establish the Maine Emergency Medical Services 
Commission
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SALISBURY of Westbrook.
Cosponsored by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland and
Representatives: BLIER of Buxton, DUCHARME of Madison, Senator: CURRY of Waldo.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-J, sub-§22 is enacted to read:
22.  
Emergency 
Medical 
Services
Maine Emergency Medical Services 
Commission
Legislative Per 
Diem and 
Expenses
MRSA 
§99 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §99 is enacted to read:
§99.  Maine Emergency Medical Services Commission
1. Commission established.  The Maine Emergency Medical Services Commission, 
referred to in this section as "the commission," is established pursuant to Title 5, section 
12004-J, subsection 22 to monitor and evaluate the State's emergency medical services 
system on a continuing basis and provide recommendations to the appropriate state 
agencies and to the Legislature regarding necessary changes in the emergency medical 
services system. 
2. Members.  The commission consists of 26 members as follows: 
A.  Three members of the Senate, including at least one member of the party holding 
the largest number of seats in the Legislature and at least one member of the party 
holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature, appointed by the President 
of the Senate; 
B.  Three members of the House of Representatives, including at least one member of 
the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and at least one member 
of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature, appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
C.  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee; 
D.  The director or the director's designee; 
E.  The chair of the board or the chair’s designee; 
F.  A representative of the Office of the Governor, designated by the Governor; 
G.  The following 6 members, appointed by the Governor: 
(1)  A representative of a statewide association representing hospitals; 
(2)  A representative of a statewide association representing ambulance services; 
(3)  A representative of a statewide association representing municipalities; 
(4)  A representative of a statewide association representing counties; 
(5)  A representative of a statewide association representing fire chiefs; and
(6)  A member of the public; 
H.  The following 5 members, appointed by the President of the Senate: 
(1)  A member who is employed or volunteers in the field of emergency medical 
services and represents a community of 10,000 or more residents; 
(2)  A member who is employed or volunteers in the field of emergency medical 
services and represents a community of fewer than 10,000 residents; 
(3)  A representative of the Maine Community College System; 
(4)  A member with expertise in health insurance coverage, billing and associated 
matters relating to the provision of emergency medical services by an emergency 
medical services provider licensed under section 82; and
(5)  A member representing an emergency medical services provider licensed 
under section 82 primarily engaged in the provision of nonemergency transporting; 
and
I.  The following 5 members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives: 
(1)  A member representing an emergency medical services provider licensed 
under section 82 operating primarily in a rural area of the State; 
(2)  A member representing an emergency medical services provider licensed 
under section 82 operating primarily in a nonrural area of the State; 
(3)  A member who is a volunteer emergency medical services person; 
(4)  A representative of the state chapter of a national organization representing 
emergency physicians; and
(5)  A member representing air ambulance services. 
3. Terms.  Terms of appointment for members are as follows. 
A.  The terms of appointment for legislative members appointed pursuant to subsection 
2, paragraphs A and B coincide with their respective legislative terms of office.
B.  Of the initial appointments made under subsection 2, paragraphs G, H and I, each 
appointing authority shall appoint 2 members for terms of 3 years, 2 members for terms 
of 2 years and the remaining members for terms of one year.  Subsequent appointments 
must be made for terms of 3 years.
C.  Members may serve beyond their designated terms until their successors are 
appointed.
4. Officers.  The director shall call the first meeting of the commission as soon as all 
appointments are made and as soon as funding permits.  At the first meeting, the 
commission shall select a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary and a treasurer from among its 
members.  The commission may select new officers annually.
5. Meetings.  The commission may meet as often as necessary but must meet at least 
quarterly.  A meeting may be called by the chair or by any 4 members.  The commission 
shall take and maintain minutes of all meetings.
6. Staffing.  If funding permits, the commission may employ staff as needed.  The 
staffs of the members represented on the commission may assist the commission in carrying 
out its functions and duties within the staffs' existing resources.  The commission may 
contract for administrative, professional and clerical services if funding permits.
7. Funding.  The commission may seek, accept and expend outside funding to carry 
out its duties.
8. Duties.  The commission shall:
A.  Regularly advise the Governor and executive officers, the Legislature, Maine 
Emergency Medical Services, emergency medical services providers licensed under 
section 82 and any other parties affected by the commission's recommendations 
regarding emergency medical services;
B.  Submit a report containing the results of the commission's studies, findings and 
recommendations to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over public safety matters by January 1st of each year.  
As resources permit, the report must include, but is not limited to:
(1)  An assessment of existing and needed resources and expected resource needs 
within the State's emergency medical services system and recommendations for 
funding those needs;
(2)  An evaluation of existing emergency medical services programs, initiatives 
and resources, including recommendations for improvements, for new programs 
and initiatives and for funding options for oversight and administration of the 
State's emergency medical services system; and
(3)  Recommendations for effective management of resources within the State's 
emergency medical services system; for enhancing the collection and distribution 
of emergency medical services data; regarding evaluation methodology for the 
State's emergency medical services system; and for recruitment and retention of 
emergency medical services persons, both paid and volunteer.
After reviewing the report submitted under this paragraph, the committee may report 
out legislation relating to the report;
C.  Adopt rules necessary to carry out the commission's duties.  Rules adopted pursuant 
to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A;
D.  Conduct public hearings, conferences, workshops and other meetings to obtain 
information about and discuss and publicize the needs of and solutions to problems 
concerning the State's emergency medical services system; and
E.  Submit proposed legislation to the Legislature to implement any recommendations 
of the commission.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Maine Emergency Medical Services Commission to monitor 
and evaluate the State's emergency medical services system on a continuing basis and 
provide recommendations to the appropriate state agencies and to the Legislature regarding 
necessary changes in the emergency medical services system.