Whereas, the Maine State Police will participate in the national fingerprint file as part of its responsibilities as the repository for criminal history record information in the State; and

Whereas, participation in the national fingerprint file requires a plan that the Maine State Police have developed; and

Whereas, the Maine State Police have begun the process of purchasing the computer software necessary to implement the plan and must determine whether the State will participate in the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact to complete the purchase of that software; and

Whereas, the purchasing decisions must be made in early 2001 and before 90 days after adjournment of the Legislature; 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. 25 MRSA c. 199 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 199

NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION AND

PRIVACY COMPACT

§1701.__Compact adopted

The National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact, referred to in this chapter as the "compact," is adopted and entered into with all jurisdictions legally joining in the compact in the form substantially as set forth in this chapter.

§1702.__Purposes

The purposes of this compact are to:

1.__Legal framework.__Provide a legal framework for the establishment of a cooperative federal-state system for the