Sec. 16. Report on local health officers. The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in conjunction with stakeholders and interested parties, shall study the qualifications and duties of local health officers in Maine and develop recommendations for enhancing the role of local health officers in emergency preparedness plans. The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall report by September 18, 2006 to the Task Force to Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs on the results of this study and proposed recommendations.

Sec. 17. Regional resource centers. The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall work with stakeholders to ensure that the regional resource centers are provided sufficient funding resources to meet the goals of hospital and health system providers. The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention shall report to the Task Force to Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs on the results of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant and contract with the regional resource centers and on proposed recommendations by September 18, 2006 and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters by January 15, 2007.

Sec. 18. Application. The Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15908, subsection 5 applies to those school construction projects during the 2006-2007 biennium that were funded through state bonds or the Maine Municipal Bond Bank, and that have also received both voter approval at a public referendum pursuant to Title 20-A, section 15904 and design approval from the State Board of Education after the effective date of this Act.

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

SUMMARY

This bill represents the interim recommendations of the Task Force to Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs. This bill authorizes the Governor to bring the balance of the Disaster Relief Fund up to $3,000,000. It requires that any interest that accrues in the fund in excess of $3,000,000 be transferred by the State Controller to the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund. The