This bill requires the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine Emergency Management Agency on the planning and expenditure of federal funds received by the center for homeland security or bioterrorism prevention. The bill also requires the advisor of the Homeland Security Advisory Council to report annually 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 on the use of those funds.

This bill places all matters pertaining to the Maine Emergency Management Agency and its director under the jurisdiction of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and assigns that committee the responsibility of reviewing that agency under the provisions of the State Government Evaluation Act. The bill requires that the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency be qualified by education, training or experience in the emergency management profession, appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and confirmation by the Legislature. It also provides that the director shall represent the Governor on all matters pertaining to the comprehensive emergency management program and the disaster and emergency response of the State. It requires the director to conduct periodic assessments of the use of state radio frequencies in emergencies and directs the director to develop and produce emergency preparedness public service announcements to be broadcast regularly on local broadcasting networks. This bill requires the director to survey Maine communities to gather information on the types of emergency notification systems that are in place throughout the State, evacuation plans for nursing homes currently adopted throughout the State and shelter capabilities throughout the State, with a focus on determining how shelters are designed to accommodate populations with special needs, particularly persons with disabilities.

This bill directs the Statewide Radio Network Board, which consists of the Chief Information Officer and agencies using the statewide radio and network system, to develop protocols and procedures for frequency coordination throughout the State during emergencies and to obtain memoranda of understanding from certain