An Act Regarding the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0695
Committee Amendment CA_C_S629 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " dy to S.P. 312, L.D. 695, "An Act Regarding the
Laws of the State of Maine"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, to Establish a Stakeholder Group to Develop Recommendations for
Improving the Safety and Security of Legislators and Their Families'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting die 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, members of the Legislature and their families are facing increasing threats
to their physical safety and security; and
Whereas, threats to the safety and security of public servants, including members of
the Legislature and their families, are a growing concern and must be addressed as quickly
as possible; 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 aid safety; now,
therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Commissioner of Public Safety to convene stakeholder group to
examine issues related to physical safety and security of Legislators and their
families. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Public Safety, referred to in this resolve
as "the commissioner," shall convene a stakeholder group to examine issues related to the
physical safety and security of members of the Legislature and their families and develop
recommendations for improving the physical safety and security of members of the
Legislature and their families.
1. Membership. The stakeholder group must include, at a mimmum, the following
members;
Page I - 132LR2170(04)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMnTEB AMENDMENT " C " to S,P. 312, L.D. 695 f 0^
A. 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, with
priority given to members with a background in security or public safety;
B. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the
House, including one member of the party holding the largest number of seats m the
Legislature and one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the
Legislature, with priority given to members with a background m security or public
safety;
C, One member of the public appointed by the President of the Senate;
D, The Chief of the State Police or the chiefs designee;
E. The executive director of a statewide association representing sheriffs or the
executive director's designee;
F. The executive director of a statewide association representing chiefs of police or
the executive director's designee; and
G. The chair of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices or the
chair's designee, who must be a member of the commission.
2. Duties and recommendations. The stakeholder group shall examine issues related
to increasing threats to the physical safety and security of members of the Legislature and
their families. The stakeholder group shall:
A. Collect information on the number of threats received by members of the
Legislature and their families in the 132nd Legislature;
B. Consult with organizations that have professional experience in protecting the
safety and security of public officials and their families, such as the United States
Department of Homeland Security, United States Secret Service, to understand current
best practices nationally for ensuring the safety and security of public officials and their
families;
C. Consult with organizations with expertise in state legislatures, including but not
limited to the National Conference of State Legislatures;
D. Develop best practices specific to the physical safety and security of members of
the Legislature and their families;
E. Identify or create educational materials that may be distributed to members of the
Legislature and their families that identify resources available to both proactively and
reactively address threats to the physical safety and security of members of the
Legislature and their families; and
P. Identify opportunities for education and training for members of the Legislature on
best practices to increase their safety and security and the safety and security of their
families.
The stakeholder group shall examine and make recommendations regarding the
information obtained pursuant to this subsection.
3. Report. The commissioner shall submit a report to the Executive Director of the
Legislative Council, the Legislative Council and the Joint Standing Committee on State
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^ ("^5 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "(" " to S.P, 312, L.D. 695 CS'^^
and Local Government with its findings and recommendations no later than November 4,
2026. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and
local government matters may report out legislation to the 133rd Legislahire in 2027 based
on the report,
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved,'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is a minority report of the committee, replaces the bill, which
is a concept draft, with a resolve. The amendment directs the Commissioner of Public
Safety to convene a stakeholder group to examine issues related to the physical safety and
security of members of the Legislature and their families and develop recommendations
for improving the physical safety and security of members of the Legislature and their
families. The amendment also adds an emergency preamble and an emergency clause.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COIVIMIHEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/27/26 t^KI"
LD 695 LR 2170(04)
An Act Regarding the Laws of the State of Maine
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment l^f^U^
Committee: State and Local Government
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
Legislative Cost/Study
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $1,400 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $1,400 in fiscal
year 2026-27. The Legislature's budget for the 2026-2027 biennium includes $7,253 in fiscal year 2025-26 and
$17,696 in fiscal year 2026-27 for the costs of legislative studies, as well as $41,338 of balances carried over from
prior fiscal years for this 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.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Department of Public Safety to adopt the changes in this bill are expected to be minor and
can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2170(04) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1