§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 and to provide recommendations to the appropriate state agencies and to the Legislature regarding necessary changes in the emergency medical services system.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
2.
Members.
The commission consists of 18 members as follows:
A.
Two members 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, appointed by the President of the Senate;
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
B.
Two members of the House of Representatives, 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, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
C.
The director or the director's designee;
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
D.
The chair of the board or the chair's designee;
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
E.
The following 6 members, appointed by the President of the Senate:
(1)
A member who represents an organization that is primarily engaged in the provision of nonemergency medical transportation services;
(2)
A member who is a practicing emergency medical services person;
(3)
A member who represents a nonmunicipal ambulance service;
(4)
A member who represents a municipal ambulance service;
(5)
A representative of a statewide association representing hospitals; and
(6)
A representative of a statewide association representing municipalities; and
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
F.
The following 6 members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
(1)
A member representing an emergency medical services training center;
(2)
A member who is a practicing emergency medical dispatcher primarily working in an emergency medical dispatch center;
(3)
A member who represents an air ambulance service;
(4)
A representative of a statewide association representing ambulance services;
(5)
A member who is a physician with expertise or a background in emergency medical services; and
(6)
A representative of a statewide association representing fire chiefs.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
3.
Terms.
Members of the commission are appointed for 3-year terms, except that the terms of appointment for legislative members appointed pursuant to subsection 2, paragraphs A and B coincide with their respective legislative terms of office. Members of the commission may serve beyond their designated terms until their successors are appointed.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
4.
Vacancies.
In the event of a vacancy on the commission, the member's unexpired term must be filled through an appointment by the appointing authority for the vacant seat.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
5.
Quorum.
A quorum of the commission consists of 10 members.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
6.
First meeting; officers.
The director shall call the first meeting of the commission as soon as all appointments are made and to the extent resources are available. 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.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
7.
Meetings.
The commission may meet as often as necessary but shall 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.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
8.
Staffing.
To the extent resources are available, the commission may employ staff as needed.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
9.
Funding.
The commission may seek, accept and expend outside funding to carry out its duties.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
10.
Duties.
The commission shall:
A.
Regularly advise the Governor and officers of executive departments, the Legislature, Maine Emergency Medical Services, licensed emergency medical service and emergency medical services persons and any other parties affected by the commission's recommendations regarding emergency medical services;
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
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 1, 2027 and annually thereafter. 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, new programs and initiatives and funding options for oversight and administration of the State's emergency medical services system;
(3)
Recommendations regarding effective management of resources within the State's emergency medical services system, enhancing the collection and distribution of emergency medical services data, methods to evaluate the State's emergency medical services system and recruitment and retention of emergency medical services persons, both paid and volunteer; and
(4)
The status of municipal emergency medical services plans adopted and submitted pursuant to Title 30‑A, section 3172 and an analysis of those plans.
After reviewing the report submitted under this paragraph, the committee may report out legislation relating to the report;
[PL 2025, c. 757, Pt. E, §1 (AMD).]
C.
Adopt rules of procedure 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; and
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
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.
[PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 757, Pt. E, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2025, c. 520, §3 (NEW). PL 2025, c. 757, Pt. E, §1 (AMD).