An Act To Clarify the Confirmation Process of the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the 122nd Legislature had determined that the appointment of the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency should be confirmed by the Legislature; and

Whereas,  the language regarding the confirmation requirement was inadvertently dropped from the final legislation approved by the 122nd Legislature; and

Whereas,  presently, an appointee is awaiting confirmation as the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency and needs to undergo the confirmation process; and

Whereas,  the confirmation process needs to be clarified to allow the appointee to be confirmed; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §704, first ¶,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 634, §11, is further amended to read:

The Maine Emergency Management Agency, as previously established and in this chapter called the "agency," is under the supervision of the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, who in this chapter is called the "director." The director must be qualified by education, training or experience in managing emergencies or in the emergency management profession and is appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the commissioner, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over the Department of Public Safety and confirmation by the Legislature. The director serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

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