C. Agents An agent or representatives a representative of the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Forestry, whose law enforcement powers are limited to those specified by Title 12, section 8901, subsection 3;

E. Harbor masters A harbor master;

F. Municipal A municipal shellfish conservation wardens warden; or

G. Security officer A security officer appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety and whose duties and powers have been expanded pursuant to section 2908. This paragraph is repealed December 31, 2002.;

H.__The State Fire Marshal; or

I.__The Chief of the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement within the Department of Public Safety.

PART C

Sec. C-1. 32 MRSA §85, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2001, c. 45, §1, is further amended to read:

6. Ambulance operator course. By January 1, 2004 2005, a person whose job description includes operating an ambulance in an emergency mode or transporting a patient must possess certification of successful completion of a basic ambulance vehicle operator course, or a course that has been approved by the board as an equivalent, in order to operate an ambulance in an emergency mode or to transport a patient. This requirement applies to all paid and volunteer ambulance operators and transporters. This requirement is in addition to vehicle operator requirements of Title 29-A or other law. A person whose job description includes operating an ambulance in an emergency mode or transporting a patient who successfully completes a basic ambulance vehicle operator course or a course that has been approved by the board as an equivalent may apply to the board for reimbursement for the cost of the course.

Sec. C-2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF

Bureau of Emergency Medical Services

Initiative: Appropriates funds for one Public Health Educator III position and for contracted services, in-state travel and general operations, including course material and vehicle repairs, to implement the training and certification of all ambulance operators by January 1, 2005, as required by law.

General Fund 2001-02 2002-03

Positions - Legislative Count (0.000) (1.000)

Personal Services $0 $49,520

All Other 0 50,000

______

General Fund Total $0 $99,520

Sec. C-3. Report. The Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters regarding the progress of the training and certification of ambulance operators by February 1, 2004.

FISCAL NOTE

2001-02 2002-03

APPROPRIATIONS/ALLOCATIONS

General Fund $99,520

This bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $99,520 in fiscal year 2002-03 for the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services within the Department of Public Safety for one Public Health Educator III position and for contracted services, in-state travel and general operations including course material and vehicle repairs to implement the training and certification of all ambulance operators by January 1, 2005, as required by law.

The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services will incur some minor additional costs to submit a required report to the Legislature. These costs can be absorbed within the bureau's existing budgeted resources.

SUMMARY

This bill is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and includes recommendations pursuant to the committee's review of the Department of Public Safety under the State Government Evaluation Act. The bill does the following.

1. It removes Maine Emergency Medical Services from the list of agencies that the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over human resource matters reviews for purposes of the State Government Evaluation Act, since the agency is already under the jurisdiction of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters.

2. It exempts from the full-time law enforcement officer training requirements the State Fire Marshal and the Department of Public Safety's Chief of the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement.

3. It extends from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2005 the time by which all persons whose job descriptions include operating an ambulance in an emergency mode or transporting a patient must possess certification of successful completion of a basic ambulance vehicle operator course, or a course that has been approved by the board as an equivalent, in order to operate an ambulance in an emergency mode or to transport a patient.

4. It appropriates General Fund money to the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for one public health educator and for contracted services, in-state travel and general operations, including course material and vehicle repairs, to implement the statutorily required training and certification of all ambulance operators by January 1, 2005.

5. It directs the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters regarding the progress of the training and certification of ambulance operators by February 1, 2004.

6. It includes a fiscal note.