Sec. AAAA-1. 5 MRSA c. 319 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 319
MAINE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES COMMISSION
§3371. Maine Fire Protection Services Commission
1. Commission established. The Maine Fire Protection Services Commission, referred to in this chapter as the "commission," is established to monitor and evaluate the State's fire protection services system on a continuing basis and to provide recommendations to the appropriate state agencies and to the Legislature regarding necessary changes in the fire protection services system. The commission is established pursuant to section 12004-J, subsection 12.
2. Membership. The commission consists of 21 members appointed as follows:
A. Two members of the Senate who sit on the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over fire protection matters, appointed by the President of the Senate;
B. Three members of the House of Representatives who sit on the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over fire protection matters, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
C. The State Fire Marshal or the fire marshal's designee;
D. The Supervisor of the Forest Fire Control Division of the Maine Forest Service or the supervisor's designee;
E. The Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards or the director's designee;
F. One municipal fire chief who is a full-time fire chief and a member of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, appointed by the Governor;
G. One municipal fire chief who is a volunteer fire chief and a member of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, appointed by the Governor;
H. One municipal fire chief who is paid on call and a member of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, appointed by the Governor;
I. Six firefighters appointed as follows:
(1) Two career firefighters who are members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine, appointed by the Governor;
(2) Two call firefighters who are members of the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters, appointed by the Governor; and
(3) Two volunteer firefighters who are members of the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters, appointed by the Governor;
J. The administrator of the Maine Fire Training and Education Program within the Maine Technical College System, or the administrator's designee; and
K. Three persons appointed by the Governor, including:
(1) One member representing the Governor's office;
(2) One public member; and
(3) One member representing the insurance industry.
The Governor shall request a list of names from the organizations covered under paragraphs F to I from which to make appointments.
3. Chair. The Governor shall designate the first chair from among the appointees. The first chair shall call the first meeting of the commission as soon as funding permits. At the first meeting, the commission shall select a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary and a treasurer from among its members. The commission may select new officers annually.
4. Terms of appointment. The terms of appointment are as follows.
A. Of the initial gubernatorial appointments, 4 must be for terms of 3 years, 4 must be for terms of 2 years and 4 must be for terms of one year.
B. Subsequent gubernatorial appointments are for terms of 3 years. Members may serve beyond their designated terms until their successors are appointed.
C. Terms of appointment for Legislators coincide with their respective legislative terms of office.
D. Other appointed members who are neither Legislators nor gubernatorial appointees serve for terms of 3 years.
5. Meetings. The commission may meet as often as necessary but must meet at least quarterly. A meeting may be called by the chair or by any 4 members. The commission shall take and maintain minutes of all meetings.
6. Staffing. If funding permits, the commission may employ staff as needed. The staffs of the members represented on the commission may assist the commission in carrying out its functions and duties within their existing resources. The commission may contract for administrative, professional and clerical services if funding permits.
7. Funding. The commission may seek, accept and expend outside funding to carry out its duties.
8. Duties. The commission shall:
A. Regularly advise the Governor and executive officers, the Legislature, the Maine Forest Service, municipal fire departments and any other parties affected by its recommendations regarding fire protection services;
B. Submit a report containing the results of its studies, findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over fire protection services matters by December 31st of each year. As resources permit, the report must include:
(1) A detailed assessment of existing and needed resources within the State's fire protection services system, including capital needs for training facilities, funding options for facilities and oversight and administration of any training facilities funds;
(2) A detailed assessment of expected resource needs in the State's fire protection services system and recommendations for funding those needs, including an evaluation of the appropriate level for the fire premium tax and bond initiative proposals;
(3) An evaluation of existing fire prevention, fire suppression, fire safety and fire training strategies and programs, including recommendations for improvements, new programs and strategies, funding options for training and oversight and administration of any training funds;
(4) Recommendations for effective management of resources within the State's fire protection services system;
(5) Recommendations for enhancing the collection and distribution of fire data, particularly as these data relate to increasing the fire protection services' capacity to fight fires and to save lives;
(6) Recommendations regarding evaluation methodology for the State's fire protection services system;
(7) Recommendations for recruitment and retention of volunteers, including a length-of-service incentive program for volunteer firefighters;
(8) Recommendations for creating a health insurance bridge for retired career firefighters;
(9) Recommendations for creating a fund to be used to provide a death benefit for firefighters and emergency medical services persons who die in the line of duty;
(10) Recommendations regarding fire investigation and inspection service needs of the Department of Public Safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal; and
(11) Recommendations regarding grants available for fire training and fire protection needs;
C. Develop rules of procedure necessary to carry out its duties. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A;
D. Adopt rules to carry out the purposes of Title 30-A, chapter 154, Maine Firefighter Training Fund. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A;
E. Conduct public hearings, conferences, workshops and other meetings to obtain information about and discuss and publicize the needs of and solutions to problems concerning the State's fire protection services;
F. Assist all governmental agencies with firefighter training and education responsibilities to enhance their delivery of services to fire prevention, protection and life safety professionals, including paid, call and volunteer fire service members; and
G. Submit proposed legislation to the Legislature to implement any recommendations of the commission.
Sec. AAAA-2. 5 MRSA §12004-J, sub-§12 is enacted to read:
Sec. AAAA-3. Implementation of firefighter training component of strategic plan of the Maine Fire Training and Education Program, Maine Technical College System. The Legislature shall appropriate funds to continue the implementation of the firefighter training component of the strategic plan of the Maine Fire Training and Education Program within the Maine Technical College System, which includes the following:
1. Increasing from 125 to 250 free firefighter training courses taught in communities statewide;
2. Providing firefighters with the opportunity to participate in fire science and leadership education; and
3. Providing current training and education materials for volunteer fire associations, municipal fire departments and citizens.
Sec. AAAA-4. Appropriation. The following funds are appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purposes of this Part.
2000-01
LEGISLATURE
Legislature
Personal Services $1,100
All Other 1,000
Provides funds for the per diem and expenses of legislative members of the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission.
LEGISLATURE __________
TOTAL 2,100
MAINE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES COMMISSION
Maine Fire Protection Services Commission
Personal Services 2,640
All Other 17,360
__________
TOTAL 20,000
Provides initial operating funds for the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission.
Maine Fire Protection Services Commission
All Other 30,000
Provides one-time funds to contract for actuarial and other planning services to create plans for a health insurance bridge for retired career firefighters and for a length-of-service incentive program for volunteer firefighters.
MAINE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES COMMISSION ____________
TOTAL 50,000
MAINE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM - BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
Maine Technical College System - Board of Trustees
All Other $323,900
Appropriates additional funds for 3 full-time and 32 part-time positions to be established by the Maine Fire Training and Education Program to develop and deliver standardized firefighter training in local communities throughout the State.
MAINE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM - BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ____________
TOTAL $323,900
SECTION ____________
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS $376,000
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