130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 1671
H.P. 1242 House of Representatives, May 5, 2021
Resolve, To Implement Security Screenings in the State House and
Capitol Area Offices
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule
205.
Received by the Clerk of the House on May 3, 2021. Referred to the Committee on State
and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule
401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DOUDERA of Camden, MEYER of Eliot, SACHS of
Freeport, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, Senators: DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, MOORE of
Washington.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3 Whereas, the levels of political polarization and extremism are rising within the State
4 and across the United States; and
5 Whereas, the rise of political polarization and extremism has been linked to several
6 major security incidents involving government offices, including those at the United States
7 Capitol and Michigan State House; and
8 Whereas, the protection of state employees, including Legislators, legislative
9 employees and state agency employees, is essential to the proper functioning of
10 government; and
11 Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
12 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
13 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
14 therefore, be it
15 Sec. 1. Implementing security screenings in capitol area offices. Resolved:
16 That the Commissioner of Public Safety shall implement security screening procedures
17 within the Burton M. Cross Building that:
18 1. Limit the number of entrances to the Burton M. Cross Building available for public
19 entry and restrict access to all other entrances;
20 2. Require the Chief of the Bureau of Capitol Police to assign Capitol Police officers
21 to conduct security screenings and operate stationary magnetometers and package
22 screening devices at public entrances to the Burton M. Cross Building;
23 3. Require all individuals entering the Burton M. Cross Building to undergo a security
24 screening, including to pass through a stationary magnetometer, to allow any packages or
25 personal belongings to be passed through a package screening device and to submit to
26 additional or alternative security screening processes as the Chief of the Capitol Police may
27 determine appropriate;
28 4. Require Capitol Police officers conducting security screenings in the Burton M.
29 Cross Building to refuse entry to any individual who refuses to undergo a security
30 screening;
31 5. Require Capitol Police officers conducting security screenings in the Burton M.
32 Cross Building to prioritize the security screening of a Legislator, legislative employee or
33 any other individual who presents a valid access card or credential identifying the
34 individual as a state or legislative employee who works inside the Burton M. Cross
35 Building; and
36 6. Require Capitol Police officers conducting security screenings in the Burton M.
37 Cross Building to prioritize the security screening of a lobbyist who presents
38 documentation demonstrating that the lobbyist is actively registered with the Commission
39 on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes,
40 Title 3, section 313 and has completed the training required by Title 3, section 312-B. For
41 the purposes of this subsection, "lobbyist" has the same meaning as in Title 3, section
42 312-A, subsection 10.
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 1 Sec. 2. Modifying security screening procedures in the State House.
2 Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall adopt rules pursuant to the Maine Revised
3 Statutes, Title 25, section 2904, subsection 2 requiring that:
4 1. All individuals entering the State House undergo a security screening;
5 2. Security screening personnel prioritize the security screening of a Legislator,
6 legislative employee or any other individual who presents to security screening personnel
7 a valid access card issued by the Legislature for access to the State House and other
8 legislative areas; and
9 3. Security screening personnel prioritize the security screening of a lobbyist who
10 presents to security screening personnel documentation demonstrating that the lobbyist is
11 actively registered with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices
12 pursuant to Title 3, section 313 and has completed the training required by Title 3, section
13 312-B. For the purposes of this subsection, "lobbyist" has the same meaning as in Title 3,
14 section 312-A, subsection 10.
15 Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
16 takes effect when approved.
17 SUMMARY
18 This resolve directs the Commissioner of Public Safety to implement certain security
19 screening procedures for individuals entering the Burton M. Cross Building within the
20 capitol area, including limiting the number of public entrances, requiring individuals
21 entering the building to undergo a security screening and prioritizing security screenings
22 for certain individuals. The resolve also directs the Legislative Council to adopt rules to
23 make certain changes to the security screening procedures for individuals entering the State
24 House, including requiring all Legislators and legislative employees to undergo a security
25 screening and prioritizing security screenings of certain individuals.
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