§704. Director; duties

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.   [PL 2007, c. 3, §1 (AMD).]

The director may employ technical, administrative and operative assistants and other personnel, subject to the Civil Service Law, and make expenditures, with approval of the commissioner, that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.   [PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (AMD).]

The director, subject to the direction and control of the commissioner, is responsible administratively to the commissioner, retains direct access to the Governor in the case of an emergency and is responsible for notifying the Governor and the commissioner of all emergencies. The director is the executive head of the agency and is responsible for carrying out the program for emergency management.   [PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (AMD).]

The director shall:   [PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

1.  Emergency management; disaster response.  Represent the Governor in all matters pertaining to the comprehensive emergency management program and the disaster and emergency response of the State;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

2.  Coordination.  Coordinate the activities of all organizations for emergency management within the State;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

3.  Liaison.  Maintain liaison with and cooperate with emergency management and public safety agencies and organizations of other states, the Federal Government and foreign countries and their political subdivisions;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

4.  Local emergency management; assessment.  Prior to the annual meeting required in section 782, subsection 4, provide to each of the local emergency management organizations of the State an annual assessment of each organization's degree of emergency management capability and any other information pertinent to ensuring the public's welfare and safety within the local organization's jurisdiction;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

5.  Public safety radio frequencies; assessment.  Conduct periodic assessments at least once every 2 years of the use of public safety radio frequencies in emergency situations to ensure that first responders obtain sufficient training to understand and comply with adopted protocols and procedures;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

6.  Public education.  Develop and conduct an annual program of comprehensive public education, using all appropriate means of communication to educate and inform members of the public and public officials about emergency preparedness, response, recovery, prevention and mitigation. The program must incorporate the use of appropriate accessible formats to educate and inform individuals with disabilities, individuals who are elderly and non-English-speaking residents of the State;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

7.  Training program.  Develop and conduct an annual statewide program of emergency management training, including the assessment, development and implementation of appropriate training for state, county and local emergency management and response and support personnel, public officials and the public. The program must address all hazards and threats identified pursuant to section 783;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

8.  Exercises; evaluations; corrective actions.  Develop and conduct an annual statewide program of emergency management exercises, evaluations and corrective actions to test and improve the policies and plans of the state, county and local emergency management agencies. The program must address all hazards and threats identified pursuant to section 783;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

9.  Emergency operations center.  Maintain and operate a primary State Emergency Operations Center and designate an alternate State Emergency Operations Center pursuant to section 741, subsection 3, paragraph G-1;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

10.  Risk assessment; emergency planning guidance.  Develop and disseminate risk assessment and emergency planning guidance in conformance with current federal requirements and national standards for use by the agency and county, regional and municipal jurisdictions;

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

11.  Comprehensive emergency management plan.  Develop and maintain a comprehensive emergency management plan for the State that is in conformance with guidance developed under subsection 10; and

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

12.  Additional duties and authority.  Carry out any additional duties and assume such additional authority as may be prescribed by the commissioner or the Governor.

[PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1983, c. 460, §3 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 816, §B17 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 785, §B175 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 370, §15 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 376, §65 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 580, §2 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 614, §§8,9 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 662, §§75,76 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 510, §A33 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 634, §11 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 3, §1 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 167, §11 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 146, §7 (AMD).