Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Maine Tribal Populations

An Act To Provide Funding To Support the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations (2021)

Sponsors: Catherine Breen

LD 1034

In 2019, the Maine Legislature created the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations. The twelve-member Commission was charged with studying the status of historically disadvantaged populations, reviewing legislation for disproportionate impacts, and making recommendations to advance racial equity in Maine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has worked with the Maine CDC to address racial disparities in Maine’s COVID-19 response. As is true across the country, Maine has work to do to dismantle systematic racism, and many bills were enacted this session directing the Commission to do more work to enhance equity in the agricultural, health, and justice sectors. LD 1034 funds four positions to do the work assigned to the Commission. Passage demonstrates that the Legislature and the Governor value the crucial work of the Commission.