Whereas, the Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services is conducting a pilot project to provide training for ambulance operators and must report the results by January 1, 2002; and

Whereas, the reporting date of this project has passed and the department still needs additional time to complete the report; 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 and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. PL 1999, c. 764, §2 is amended to read:

*Sec. 2. Pilot project. The Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services shall conduct a pilot project to provide training for ambulance operators required under this Act and explore alternative funding sources for that training. Maine Emergency Medical Services shall hire a consultant through a competitive bidding process to set up, conduct and report on the results of the pilot project. Maine Emergency Medical Services shall report on the results of the pilot project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public safety matters by January 1, 2001 2002. The report must contain a plan for implementation of this Act and any necessary implementing legislation. Following review of the report, the committee may introduce a bill regarding ambulance operator training to the First Second Regular Session of the 120th Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill extends the reporting date for the Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services ambulance operator training pilot project by one year.