The Department of Public Safety will incur some minor additional costs to adopt certain rules pertaining to the establishment of death benefits for certain firefighters and emergency medical services persons. These costs can be absorbed within the department's existing budgeted resources.

This bill also includes a General Fund appropriation of $2,100 in fiscal year 2000-01 for the Legislature for the per diem and expenses of legislative members of the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission. The estimated future costs beginning in fiscal year 2001-02 will be approximately $2,200.

The additional costs associated with providing staffing assistance to the commission, if requested to do so during the interim between legislative sessions, can be absorbed by the Legislature utilizing existing budgeted resources. If the commission requires staffing assistance during the legislative session, the Legislature may require an additional General Fund appropriation to contract for staff services.

The Department of Public Safety, the Department of Conservation, the Department of Labor and the Maine Technical College System will incur some minor additional costs to serve on the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission. These costs can be absorbed within the departments' existing budgeted resources.

SUMMARY

Pursuant to Resolve 1999, chapter 65, the Criminal justice Committee submits this bill to implement the recommendations of the Commission to Study the Enhancement of Fire Protection Services Throughout the State. This bill does the following.

1. It establishes the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission, whose duties include assessing the fire protection service system and firefighter training needs in the State and reporting and recommending potential changes to the Legislature and the executive. The bill also proposes to appropriate one- time funds to the commission to allow for the investigation of options to provide a health insurance bridge for retired