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--- version:LD 389 SP 171
+++ version:(document, no version)
@@ -1,134 +1,23 @@
-Printed on recycled paper
-CORRECTED FRONT PAGE
-February 3, 2025
-(PLEASE REPLACE
-THIS FRONT PAGE ONLY)
+Approved: 04/07/25
+LD 389 LR 704(02)
+Legislative Cost/Study
+Fiscal Detail and Notes
+Fiscal Note
+Legislative Cost/Study
+Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to serve on the COVID-19 Review
+Commission are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. Any additional costs to
+the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management associated with assisting the Commission are also
+expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
 132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
-FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
-Legislative Document No. 389
-S.P. 171 In Senate, February 4, 2025
-Resolve, to Increase Transparency and Evaluate Emergency
-Response Through a COVID-19 Review Commission
-(EMERGENCY)
-Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
-DAREK M. GRANT
-Secretary of the Senate
-Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
-Cosponsored by Representative JAVNER of Chester and
-Senator: MOORE of Washington, Representative: ARATA of New Gloucester.
-
-Page 1 - 132LR0704(01)
-1Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
-2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
-3Whereas, this resolve establishes the COVID-19 Review Commission to review and
-4 collect information regarding the executive orders related to the declared COVID-19
-5 emergency; review contracts entered into related to executing the Governor's emergency
-6 proclamation and related executive orders and the data related to COVID-19 collected by
-7 the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and
-8 Prevention, including suicide attempts and deaths and drug-related hospitalizations and
-9 deaths; study the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention's response, including
-10 testing and use of contact tracing; and study the policies and rules connected to COVID-19
-11 implemented by various state departments; and
-12Whereas, the review must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that
-13 the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for consideration during the
-14 next legislative session; and
-15Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
-16 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
-17 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
-18 therefore,
-19Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the COVID-19 Review
-20 Commission, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established.
-21Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
-22 353, the commission consists of the Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the
-23 commissioner's designee and 13 other members appointed as follows:
-24 1. Four members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 2
-25 members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
-26 2. Eight members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
-27 House, including 4 members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats
-28 in the Legislature; and
-29 3.  One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House
-30 who is not a member of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature.
-31Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
-32 and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the
-33 commission.
-34Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all
-35 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
-36 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
-37 Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
-38 the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more
-39 after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
-40 made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
-41 the commission to meet and conduct its business.
-42Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall:
-Page 2 - 132LR0704(01)
-1 1.  Study the State's response to coronavirus disease 2019, referred to in this resolve as
-2 COVID-19, and state laws, rules and policies governing that response in the State,
-3 including but not limited to executive orders related to the declared COVID-19 emergency;
-4 2.  Review contracts entered into related to executing the Governor's emergency
-5 proclamation and related executive orders;
-6 3.  Review the data related to COVID-19 collected by the Department of Health and
-7 Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, including suicide
-8 attempts and deaths and drug-related hospitalizations and deaths;
-9 4.  Study the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention's response, including
-10 testing and use of contact tracing;
-11 5. Study the policies and rules connected to COVID-19 implemented by the
-12 Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Department
-13 of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine Emergency Management
-14 Agency and the Department of Economic and Community Development;
-15 6. Review federal, state and local intergovernmental coordination;
-16 7. Review distribution of vaccines, including the use of public and private methods for
-17 distribution;
-18 8. Review the availability of medical equipment and supplies, including personal
-19 protective equipment;
-20 9. Review interagency communication and information sharing, including review of
-21 accountability and preparedness regarding executive emergency proclamation powers;
-22 10. Review responses of hospitals, nursing homes and other congregate settings;
-23 11. Review economic relief policies;
-24 12. Review overall health and economic effects on communities, including racial and
-25 ethnic minority populations, of COVID-19 infections and deaths and the response of the
-26 State to mitigate those effects;
-27 13. Review state, county and municipal government preparedness and response to
-28 executive orders related to the declared COVID-19 emergency; and
-29 14.  Study any other matters related to the COVID-19 response as required by the
-30 commission.
-31Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the
-32 Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission.
-33Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 3, 2025, the commission
-34 shall submit a report based on its review that includes its findings and recommendations,
-35 including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human
-36 Services.  The joint standing committee may report out legislation to the Second Regular
-37 Session of the 132nd Legislature based on the report.
-38Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
-39 takes effect when approved.
-Page 3 - 132LR0704(01)
-1SUMMARY
-2 This resolve establishes the COVID-19 Review Commission to review and study the
-3 State's response to COVID-19 and state laws, rules and policies governing that response in
-4 the State, including the executive orders related to the declared COVID-19 emergency;
-5 contracts entered into related to executing the Governor's emergency proclamation and
-6 related executive orders and the data related to COVID-19 collected by the Department of
-7 Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, including
-8 suicide attempts and deaths and drug-related hospitalizations and deaths; the Maine Center
-9 for Disease Control and Prevention's response, including testing and use of contact tracing;
-10 and the policies and rules connected to COVID-19 implemented by the Department of
-11 Health and Human Services; the Department of Education; the Department of Defense,
-12 Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine Emergency Management Agency; and the
-13 Department of Economic and Community Development.  The commission is required to
-14 submit a report based on its review that includes its findings and recommendations,
-15 including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human
-16 Services no later than December 3, 2025.
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+Resolve, to Increase Transparency and Evaluate Emergency Response Through a COVID-19 Review
+Commission
+Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
+Committee: Health and Human Services
+Fiscal Note Required: Yes
+The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $9,350 in fiscal year 2025-26. The Legislature’s
+proposed budget for the 2026-2027 biennium includes $22,196 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for the
+costs of legislative studies, as well as $8,265 in projected  balances from fiscal year 2024-25 and $33,073 of balances
+carried over from prior years for this purpose. Whether these amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on
+the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The additional costs of providing
+staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources.
+LR0704(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1