Resolve to Study
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1676
Committee Amendment CA_A_H598 (House)

FffiST SPECIAL SESSION
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^ " to H.P 1111 L.D. 1676, "Resolve to Study
Ways to Improve Recruitment and 'Retention of Rural Emergency Medical Services
Personnel Through Access to Health Insurance"
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, to Study Ways to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Rural Emergency
Services Personnel
Amend the resolve in section 1 in the last line (page 1, line 3 in L.D.) by striking out
the following: "medical services personnel through access to health insurance" and
inserting the following: 'services personnel including, but not limited to, emergency
medical sendces persons, volunteer or part-time firefighters and health care workers'
Amend the resolve in section 2 in subsection 1 in paragraph A in the 2nd line (page 1,
line 8 in L.D.) by insertmg after the following: "services" the following: 'or firefighting'
Amend the resolve in section 2 m subsection 1 by inserting after paragraph B the
following;
'C. One member who represents a statewide association of volunteer firefighters;'
Amend the resolve in section 2 in subsection 1 by relettering the paragraphs to read
alphabeticaUy,
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 3 and inserting the following:
'See. 3. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall study ways to improve
recruitment and retention of emergency services personnel in rural areas of the State. In its
study, the commission may examine all benefits that may incentivize the recruitment and
retention of rural emergency services personnel, which must include, at a minimum:
1. Increased access to health insurance;
2. Financial incentives including stipends, tuition assistance and loan forgiveness;
3. Increased access to mental health support;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMHTEE AMENDMENT " M" to H.P. 1111, L.D. 1676
^, ~^ZZZ1^ZZ~.
4. Retirement contributions or service credits;
5. Volunteer recognition and professional advancement pathways; and
6. An examination of the recommendations made by the Municipal Volunteer Working
Group as established by Resolve 2015, chapter 49. This examination must include a review
of that working group's recommendations that have been implemented and whether the
recommendations that have not been implemented are still appropriate.'
Amend the resolve by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or
section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, changes the title and
expands the scope of the resolve to include emergency medical services persons, volunteer
or part-time firefighters and health care workers. The amendment also provides additional
detail on what issues the commission should examine to improve recruitment and retention
of these individuals, including increased access to health insurance, financial incentives,
increased access to mental health support, retirement benefits and professional
advancement pathways, and directs the commission to review the recommendations made
by the Municipal Volunteer Working Group as established by Resolve 2015, chapter 49 to
determine whether fhose recommendations are still appropriate,
FISCAL NOTE REQmRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 05/31/25
L-RL-
LD 1676 LR 1938(02)
Resolve, to Study Ways to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Rural Emergency Medical Services
Personnel Through Access to Health Insurance
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^' / )-4^.
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Department of Public Safety from convening the commission and reporting the results are
also expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Deparhment of Administrative and
Financial Services to serve on a commission are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted
resources.
LR1938(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1