An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Stakeholder Group to Examine and Improve the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1980
Committee Amendment CA_A_S540 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004, 22 MRSA §2842, 25 MRSA §2804-E, 25 MRSA §2804-F, 25 MRSA §2809

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/J-" to S.P. 775, L.D. 1980, "Ati Act to Implement
the Recommendations of the Stakeholder Group to Examine and Improve the Recruitment,
Retention and Wellness of Law Enforcement Officers"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-1, sub-§74-M is enacted to read:
74-M.
Public Safety Law Enforcement Retention Advisory Not Authorized 25 MRSA
Council §3891
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §2842, sub-§l-B is enacted to read:
1-B, Designation of status as first responder. A death certificate for an individual
must include whether the decedent had previously worked as a law enforcement officer.
firefiehter. dispatcher or emereenov medical services person. For purposes of this
subsection, "law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as in Title 17-A. section 2.
subsection 17. "fn-efiehter" has the same meanine as in Title 17-A. section 752-E.
subsection 2, "dispatcher" has the same meanine as in Title 5. section 18313. subsection 1
and "emergency medical services person" has the same meaninp as in Title 32. section 83.
subsection 12.
Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §2804-E, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 147, §34, is
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
2,RoleofbQardi recertification. The board shall establish in-service recertification
traininp requirements, consistent with subsection 1. and coordinate delivery of in-service
training. The in-service recertificatiotl training requirements must include;
A. Information on new laws and court decisions;
B, Information on new enforcement practices demonstrated to reduce crime or increase
officer safety: and
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^)<0 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^." to S.P. 775, L.D. 1 980 (c>-^/'
C. Wellness training that m'epares law enforcement officers for the^svcholoeical,
emotional and physical stress associated with service. The training must be evidence-
based and provided in person by a law enforcement officer and a licensed mental health
professional. The training must be completed within the first 3 years of a law
enforcement officer's receiving certification pursuant to section 2803-A. For the
DUfDOses of this paragraph, "law enforcement officer" means a law enforcement officer
that has successfully completed the basic law enforcement trainine program under
section 2804-C, has received a basic law enforcement training oroeram waiver under
section 2803-A or has successfully comoleted the basic corrections training_under
section 2804-D.
The board shall consider and encourage the use of telecommunications technoloev in the
development and delivery of in-service trainine proerams. In establishing^ the
recertiftcatioti trainine requirements, the board shall cooperate with the state and local
departments and agencies to which the in-service requirements apply to ensure that the
standards are apm'opriate. In-service training may not be applied to satisfy in-service
recertification training requirements unless it is approved by the board.
Sec. 4. 25 MRSA §2804-F, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 147, §35, is
repeated and the following enacted in its place:
2. Role of board. The board shall establish in-semce training requirements.
consistent with subsection 1 , and coordinate delivery of in-service training. The in-service
recertification training requirements must include information on;
A. New laws and court decisions; and
B, Wellness trainit? that prepares corrections officers for the psvcholoeical. emotional
and physical stress associated with service. The traimne must be evidence-based _anc{
m-ovided in person by a law enforcement officer and a licensed mental health
m'ofessional. The training must be completed once within the first 3 years of a
corrections officer's t'eceivine certification pursuant to section 2803-A.
The board shall consider and encourage the use of telecommunications technoloev in the
develoDment and delivery of in-service trainine programs. In establishine the
0 recertification trainine requirements, the board shall coooerate with the state and local
departmentsL and agencies to wliich the in-service requirements apply to ensure that the
standards are aDDi'om'iate. In-service training may not be applied to satisfy in-service
3 recertification training requirements unless It is aoproved by the board.
See. 5. 25 MRSA §2809, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1989,c. 521,§§14 and 17, is
amended to read;
4. Training for exempt law enforcement officers. An explanation and evaluation of
the training provided by the state agencies for their law enforcement officers who are
8 exempt from the requirements of this ctiapter under section 2801 -B; ssd
Sec. 6. 25 MRSA §2809, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1989,c. 521,§§14 and 17, is
amended to read;
5. Other information. Any other information the Legislature may request or the
board determines is appropriate^and
Sec. 7. 25 MRSA §2809, sub-§6 is enacted to read;
Page2-132LR2532(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /i " to S.P. 775, L,D. 1980 Lsi' Sc/ 0
6. Law Enforcement Retention Adviso IT Council re&orts^ Any reRorts produced
by the Law Enforcement Retention Advisory Council pursuant to its duties under chapter
415.
Sec. 8. 25 MRSA c. 415 is enacted to read;
CHAPTER 415
LAW ENFORCEMENT RETENTION ADVISORY COUNCIL
§3891. Law Enforcement Retention Adyisoo' Council
1. Law Enforcement Retention Advisory Councili established; duties. The Law
Enforcement Retention Advisory Council, as established by Title 5. section 12004-1.
subsection 74-M and referred to in this chapter as "the advisor/ council," shall advise the
Commissioner of Public Safety, referred to in this chapter as "the commissioner." on the
development and implementation of state and local policies and oroerams for the purposes
of improving the recruitment. retention and wellness of law enforcement officers, as
defined in Title 17"A. section 2, subsection 17. The advisory council may submit reports
with recommendations to the commissioner, the joint standing committee of the Leeisiature
having jurisdiction over public safety matters and any other oreanization.
2. Membership. The advisory council consists of the commissioner. or the
commissioner's desienee. and. at a minimum, the following members appointed by the
commissioner:
A. An individual representing a statewide chapter of a national fraternal order of
police;
B. An individual reoresenting a statewide association of police;
C, An individual representing a statewide association advocatine for law enforcement
officials within the Bureau of State Police;
D, An individual representing a statewide law enforcement association;
B. An individual representing the Maine Criminal Justice Academy;
F. An individual representinp a coalition of mental health providers in the State who
Specialize in treating first responders as the coalition's sole^racttce;
G. An individual representine a postsecondarv educational institution in the State with
proerams focused on law enforcement or mental health:
H. An individual representing a statewide association of chiefs of police;
I, An individual representing a statewide association of sheriffs;
3 J. A student representing a secondary school prpRi'am focused on law enforcement
education in the State; and
K. An individual representmp retired law enforcement officers in the State.
The commissioner may appoint additional members to the advisory council in consultation
with members of the advisory council.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
y-'~ COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ^ " to S,P. 775, L.D. 1980 C^>'
2025-26
0.000
$0
$0
2026-27
1.000
$125,356
$5,000
3. Terms; vacancies. Members of the advisory council serve 3-vear terms and may be
reappointed by tlie commissioner, When a vacancy occurs, the commissioner shall fill the
vacancy by appointing a member from the same category under subsection 2 as the member
who vacatedthe advisorv council, and tliat member continues to serve for the remainder of
theterm.
Sec. 9. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
Criminal Justice Academy 0290
Initiative; Provides funding for one MCJA Law Enforcement Wellness Coordinator
position and All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
Personal Services
AHOther
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $130,356
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment implements the recommendations
of the Stakeholder Group to Examine and Improve the Recruitment, Retention and
Wellness of Law Enforcement Officers. The amendment;
1, Creates the Law Enforcement Retention Advisory Council;
2. Requires the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's annual report to include any report
produced by the advisory council;
3. Requires a death certificate to reflect whether die decedent had previously worked
as a first responder;
4. Requires the board of trustees of the academy to incorporate in-service law
enforcement training that includes law enforcement officer wellness training for full-time
law enforcement officers that have successfully completed the basic law enforcement
training program, received a basic law enforcement training program waiver or
successfully completed the basic corrections training; and
5. Provides funding for one MCJA Law Enforcement Wellness Coordinator position
within the Department of Public Safety,
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Page4"132LR2532(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 02/25/26 L.KI-
LD 1980 LR 2532(02)
An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Stakeholder Group to Examine and Improve the
Recruitment, Retention and Wellness of Law Enforcement Officers
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^'Y^-^o)
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Fiscal Note Required; Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $130,356 $134,868 $139,544
Ippropriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 $130,356 $134,868 $139,544
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation to the Department of Public Safety of $130,356 in fiscal year
2026-27 for one MCJA Law Enforcement Wellness Coordinator position and All Other costs to incorporate in-service
law enforcement training that includes law enforcement office wellness training.
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt the changes in this bill are expected to
be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2532(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1