AUGUSTA – Maine lawmakers are considering changing security procedures at the State House complex in response to the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz.

Members of the Legislative Council’s facilities committee asked state officials for a summary of the current security procedures during a meeting Wednesday. They asked David Boulter, executive director of the Legislative Council, to recommend possible improvements at an upcoming meeting.

“We want to make sure we know what type of security arrangements are in place and what are our options,” said Sen. Jon Courtney, R-Sanford, the Senate majority leader and facilities committee chair. “We haven’t arrived at any type of decision.”

The Legislative Council, made up of House and Senate leadership, is the decision-making body for the State House complex.

State House security has evolved over the years to incorporate cameras and the use of access cards for lawmakers and employees. Other changes still could be made, such as setting up metal detectors.

Boulter said significant renovations of the Capitol complex were under way when the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, so changes were made at that time.

“Between building renovations and the increased concern about terrorism, there were a number of changes made, one of them being the institution of access cards,” he said.

The public is funneled through one entrance of the State House, which is monitored by a member of the Capitol Police force, Boulter said. Metal detectors, purchased with Department of Homeland Security grant money, have never been set up permanently.

“In the past, the council has not felt the need to install that on an ongoing basis,” Boulter said.

Courtney said many Legislative Council members, including himself, didn’t know about the metal detectors, “so we feel we ought to look at everything that’s out there.”

“We want to make sure that we keep the Capitol accessible, but there’s a lot of people that work here, and we want to make sure that they are safe as well,” he said.

Dan Demeritt, spokesman for Gov. Paul LePage, whose office is in the State House, said the governor has not sought any security changes.

“We have the executive protection detail protecting the governor, and we feel comfortable here in the building,” he said. “We haven’t asked for any extra protections or precautions, but we also understand it’s a tough balance between providing free and open access to the Legislature and the Capitol building and maintaining security for the people that work here and visit here.”

Other states have varying security protocols. Massachusetts, for example, requires State House visitors to pass through metal detectors, while New Hampshire does not.

“We’ve never had metal detectors or screening, and we’ve never had any issues,” said Shannon Shutts, spokeswoman for the New Hampshire House Speaker’s Office.

Shutts said there’s no ban on firearms in New Hampshire’s Capitol — for lawmakers or the public. Only concealed weapons are allowed on the floor or in the gallery.

Boulter said Maine has had a longstanding ban on firearms on state property, including the State House.

The security review and recommendations are expected to be presented to lawmakers next week.

MaineToday Media State House Writer Rebekah Metzler can be contacted at 620-7016 or at:

rmetzler@mainetoday.com