AUGUSTA (AP) — A second effort is underway to pass legislation in Maine to guarantee that military recruiters would be allowed to wear uniforms in schools.

A Republican-backed bill was narrowly defeated in the last session after acrimonious debate and accusations of anti-military bias.

Opponents said the bill was unnecessary because there was no verified evidence of uniformed military recruiters being denied access to schools.

A new bipartisan bill is back for the legislative session that starts Wednesday. It is co-sponsored by Newcastle Democrat Mick Devin and Whiting Republican David Burns and would also allow police, firefighters and other public safety officials to wear uniforms while recruiting in schools.

U.S. Naval Academy graduate Devin told the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1aAyonZ ) that the new bill ensures that no one looks like “the bad guy.”