An Act Authorizing Statewide Mutual Aid among First Responder Agencies

Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §784-B  is enacted to read:

§ 784-B.  Maine First Responders State-wide Mutual Aid Agreement

All political subdivisions within the State are covered by the Maine First Responders State-wide Mutual Aid Agreement, dated November 2008, as drafted by the agency and referred to in this section as "the agreement," except that a political subdivision may withdraw from the agreement by enacting a local ordinance that withdraws from the agreement.

A local first responder agency may provide emergency management, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical, public works and other emergency services as necessary upon the request of any political subdivision within the State in accordance with the agreement. Additional preexisting contracts or agreements with the jurisdiction requesting the services are not required.

summary

This bill provides that the Maine First Responders State-wide Mutual Aid Agreement, drafted by the Maine Emergency Management Agency and dated November 2008, applies to all political subdivisions in the State. This bill eliminates the necessity for political subdivisions to adopt local ordinances to participate in the agreement. Political subdivisions retain the right to withdraw from the agreement if they so elect.

By applying the agreement, this bill authorizes first responder agencies to provide emergency services, even if a political subdivision has not entered into a mutual aid agreement with the political subdivision sending the requested emergency management, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical, public works or other emergency services.