Maine

A retired licensed physician, podiatrist, or dentist, who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides their services within their scope of practice to a nonprofit organization or members or recipients of services from a nonprofit, an agency of the state or a political subdivision, or to support the state's response to an emergency declaration, will not be held legally responsible for injuries or damages to a person. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

A director, officer, or volunteer of a nonprofit organization, who is acting within the scope of their duties and activities, will not be held legally responsible for injuries or damages to a person or property. This section does not apply while they operate a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft. Click to Learn More

A veterinarian, who, in good faith, provides emergency care to an animal when the owner cannot be identified, is not required to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship prior to providing the care. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An individual, who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides emergency treatment or rescue assistance to an animal, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

The state, a political subdivision, a person participating in emergency management activities, or a person, who, voluntarily and without compensation, allows the use of their property as an emergency management shelter and is complying, or attempting to comply, with the rules adopted by the Emergency Management Agency, will not be held legally responsible for injuries or damage to a person or property. Click to Learn More

An osteopathic physician, who provides emergency care with due care at the scene of an accident, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an emergency medical services person, who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides their services within their scope of practice during the State's response, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

Municipal or volunteer firefighters or emergency services personnel, who provide aid in another municipality, will receive the same immunity as if they were in their own municipality. Click to Learn More

An individual, who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides emergency treatment or rescue assistance to a person, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if the care is provided in a health care facility or if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section also applies to members or employees of a nonprofit or government ambulance, rescue, or emergency unit regardless if they receive a salary from the unit. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An individual who has completed the appropriate training, and who, in good faith, administers or provides an epi pen to another person, will not be held legally responsible for any damage or injuries. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

An individual, who acquires, owns, retrieves, or uses an AED or a physician who issues a prescription for an AED, will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

An out-of-state licensed ambulance service, vehicle, or person, who provides emergency medical services during a mass casualty situation in Maine, is not obligated to follow licensing requirements. Click to Learn More

A retired physician can apply to change their license status to volunteer so they can provide their services to low income and needy patients without compensation. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an out-of-state licensed physician, who can provide proof of qualifications for licensure, will be issued a temporary license. This license will be effective for up to 100 days and can be charged up to $400. Click to Learn More

An interpreter, who is a resident of another jurisdiction and provides, without compensation, their service for less than 160 hours per year in the State, is not required to become licensed in the State. When an emergency declaration is in effect, services provided will not count towards the 160 hour limit. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an out-of-state business and its employees, who are in the state to provide aid, are not required to follow local or state business or occupational licensing requirements. Click to Learn More

A veterinarian, who, in good faith, provides emergency care to an animal when the owner cannot be identified, is not required to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship prior to providing the care. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

A naturopathic doctor can provide emergency medicine, only when providing care as a Good Samaritan and without compensation. This does not include minor injuries. Click to Learn More

An employer cannot terminate or discipline an employee who is a volunteer firefighter if the employee is late or absent because they were responding to an emergency. An employer can request a written statement from the supervisor of the emergency volunteer and charge any lost time against the employee. If time permits, the employee must notify their employer of their absence due to an emergency. Click to Learn More

An emergency medical services personnel, who is killed while performing their duties, is entitled to workers' compensation. They will not be entitled to the benefit if it is found they were acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm, were under the influence of alcohol, or if they were a contributing factor to their death. Click to Learn More

An employee of Maine, who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross, can be granted either paid leave, leave with use of compensated time off, or a combination of the two. The leave will only be granted for services during an emergency declared by the Governor or President. This is limited to 15 work days in a 12 month period either consecutively or nonconsecutively . Click to Learn More

A county or municipal employee, who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross, can be granted either paid leave, leave with use of compensated time off, or a combination of the two. The leave will only be granted for services during an emergency declared by the Governor or President. This is limited to 15 work days in a 12 month period either consecutively or nonconsecutively . Click to Learn More

A search and rescue worker, who is certified by the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, will be considered a State employee and is entitled to workers' compensation if injured or killed while performing their duties. Click to Learn More