Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Study the Incidence of and Mortality Related to Cancer

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

Whereas,   this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period in order to allow this commission sufficient time to conduct its work; 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, be it

Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission To Study the Incidence of and Mortality Related to Cancer, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of no more than 11 members as follows:

1. The President of the Senate shall appoint:

2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint:

3. The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services or the director's designee; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 10 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been made. The chairs of the commission shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission within 15 days of the effective date of this resolve. If a majority of but not all appointments have been made within 10 days of the effective date of this resolve, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 5. Meetings. Resolved: That the commission is authorized to meet up to 4 times to accomplish its duties; and be it further

Sec. 6. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall review the State's above-average rates of cancer incidence and mortality and the State's current cancer prevention, detection and treatment goals and priorities.

The commission shall gather information and data from public and private entities as necessary to:

1. Identify or review the State's current priorities and goals to reduce the incidence of and mortality from cancer;

2. Identify the types of cancer with the highest incidence and mortality in the State, including the types of cancer whose incidence and mortality rates differ the most from national averages;

3. Identify the risk factors, including preventable lifestyle risk factors such as tobacco use, diet, exercise and obesity, related to high relative rates of the incidence of and mortality from cancer;

4. Identify the extent to which barriers to health care in the State contribute to cancer mortality;

5. Make recommendations for legislative strategies to reduce the State's cancer incidence and mortality; and

6. Make recommendations for how current state programs could further assist citizens through education and cancer prevention programs; and be it further

Sec. 7. Cooperation. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services and the Commissioner of Education, and any other relevant department, shall provide information and data to the commission as necessary for its work, within existing resources; and be it further

Sec. 8. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council may provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further

Sec. 9. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 4, 2013, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services in the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature; and be it further

Sec. 10. Outside funding. Resolved: That the commission shall seek funding contributions to fund 50% of the costs of the study. All funding is subject to approval by the Legislative Council in accordance with its policies. If sufficient contributions to fund 50% of the study have not been received within 30 days after the effective date of this resolve, no meetings are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be incurred or reimbursed.

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