Legislative Affairs
The Maine Merchants Association Legislative Affairs Team is our member's full-time advocate in Augusta. Throughout the legislative session, we track dozens of bills relevant to Maine's merchant community.
We have developed a unique bill tracking service that enables our members to quickly find relevant bills, understand their impact, and the progress a bill has made. We also will feature particular bills that have garnered a lot of attention or stand to impact our industry in significant ways. We urge our membership to pay close attention to the Featured Bills.
You're viewing: Wage and Labor Related | Show All
- An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Knowing Misclassification of Construction Workers
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1565Senator Martin of Eagle Lake would authorize the executive director of the Workers’ Compensation Board to shut-down a business or work site if the hiring agent or construction subcontractor has knowingly misrepresented one or more employees as independent contractors. It would also prohibit the subcontractor from performing work on a public works project for three years.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Enhance Cooperation between the Workers' Compensation Board's Abuse Investigation Unit and
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1528Senator Jackson of Aroostook appears to be part of the state’s clamp-down on the use of independent workers. This bill would clarify that the Workers’ Compensation Board’s abuse investigation unit may share information with other state agencies and would also clarify that coverage penalties in the Workers’ Compensation Act of 1992 apply to all business entities. (A MMA priority issue)
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Index the State Minimum Wage to Inflation
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Defeated
LD 192Representative Tuttle of Sanford would require the state’s minimum wage to be adjusted annually for inflation.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2010
- An Act To Prevent the Spread of H1N1 (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Defeated
LD 1665Senate President Mitchell would require “large” businesses in Maine to provide up to 52 hours paid family sick leave a year, and half that amount for smaller firms. The bill’s expressed purpose is to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus, but the leave could be taken for numerous health and domestic violence-related purposes. Maine would become the first state to mandate paid family medical leave.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Maine Workers' Compensation Act of 1992 Regarding Coordination of Benefits
- Last Update: July 10, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1529Senator Jackson of Aroostook would bring the state into compliance with a court decision regarding coordination of benefits pertaining to life insurance and disability payments.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Unemployment Compensation Laws Regarding Vacation Pay (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 1626House Speaker Pingree of North Haven would amend state law to allow an individual to receive unemployment compensation for a period in which they also receive vacation pay.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To License Home Building and Improvement Contractors
- Last Update: April 02, 2010
Status: Defeated
LD 272Representative MacDonald of Boothbay would license home building and improvement contractors. This measure has sparked considerable debate for several years in Maine.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2010
- An Act To Protect Family Caregivers
- Last Update: February 22, 2010
Status: Defeated
LD 962This bill would add Family Caregivers to the ranks of protected classes of people under the Maine Human Rights Act.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2010
- An Act To Increase the Minimum Wage
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Defeated
LD 403Representative Tuttle of Sanford would increase the Maine Minimum wage to $8.90 an hour in two steps by October 1, 2011. Presently, the wage is scheduled to increase from $7.25 to $7.50 an hour on October 1, 2009. Under the new proposal, it would increase to $8.20 an hour in 2010 and to $8.90 in 2011. At that point it would be placed on “automatic pilot” to be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Employment Practices Law Regarding Substance Abuse Testing
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 549Senator Weston of Waldo would permit employers to use tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration if tests are not available through the Department of Health and Human Services.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Increase Child Support Collection by Expanding the New Hire Reporting Requirements
- Last Update: February 01, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 300Senator Simpson of Androscoggin would require employers who report new hires to facilitate state child support efforts to also report the hiring of independent contractors if the compensation exceeds $600.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Equitably Adjust the Workers\' Compensation Board\'s Assessment
- Last Update: January 27, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 176Senator Bartlett of Cumberland would require the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board to use collections that exceed the maximum assessment by more than 10% to reduce the assessment on insured employers.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Construction Contracts
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Defeated
LD 93Representative Crockett of Augusta would require that any action by a home contractor or subcontractor to recover payment must be brought in the county were the construction is located.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2010
- An Act To Increase the Ability of the Maine Wage Assurance Fund To Pay Unpaid Workers
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 65Senator Jackson of Aroostook would increase the amount of money that may be held in the Maine Wage Assurance Fund from $100,000 to $200,000. The fund is utilized to pay unemployment benefits of employees whose firms go out of businesses; and is partially funded by fines.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Definition of Employment for Purposes of Unemployment Compensation
- Last Update: January 19, 2010
Status: Defeated
LD 27Representative Flood of Winthrop would require individuals to work at least 16 hours to meet the requirements of the “ABC Test” for collecting unemployment benefits.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2010
- An Act Allowing Workers' Compensation Benefits for Firefighters Who Contract Cancer
- Last Update: January 14, 2010
Status: Passed
LD 621Senator Bartlett of Cumberland would presume that a firefighter who contracts cancer contracted the disease in the course of employment if an earlier test did not detect the disease.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Passed | 2010
- An Act To Implement a Maine Unemployment Insurance Work-sharing Program
- Last Update: January 08, 2010
Status: In committee
LD 1681Senator Jackson of Aroostook would allow a business to voluntarily implement an unemployment insurance work-share program that would create an alternative to layoffs during a temporary slowdown in business. The bill is proposed by the Maine Department of Labor.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2010
- Resolve, To Develop a Model Academic Year Calendar
- Last Update: December 21, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1563Representative Sutherland of Chapman would establish a commission to develop a model academic year calendar. In the past, retailers and restaurant operators have pushed for conformity that would permit schools to open after Labor Day.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2010
- An Act Regarding Accidental Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Deceased Firefighters
- Last Update: December 21, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1558Senator Jackson of Aroostook would provide accidental death benefits to the beneficiary of a professional firefighter who dies of a disease relating to the occupation.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2010
- An Act To Protect Maine Workers
- Last Update: December 21, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1545Senator Jackson of Aroostook would prohibit a Maine employer from hiring foreign workers for five years if the employer violates proof of equipment and foreign labor certification laws. Bill is designed to deal with a Maine/Canadian logging issue.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2010
- An Act To Make Maine Laws Consistent with Recent Amendments to the United States Trade Act of 1974
- Last Update: December 21, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1543Representative Tuttle of Sanford would bring Maine into compliance with the U.S. Trade Act relative to unemployment compensation qualification.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Statute of Limitations under the Maine Human Rights Act
- Last Update: December 21, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1537Representative Blodgett of Augusta would shorten from two to one year the period within which the commission must conclude an investigation.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2010
- An Act To Ensure Equity in Unemployment Compensation Claims
- Last Update: December 21, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1524Representative Beaulieu of Auburn would address a situation where two employers lay-off the same employee within 30 days of each other, i.e. which employer should be considered the claimant’s last employer for purposes of unemployment compensation.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2010
- An Act To Amend the Requirements for the Livable Wage Report
- Last Update: May 07, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 64Senator Jackson of Aroostook would delay until December 31, 2009, the deadline by which the State Department of Labor must transmit a “living wage” report to the legislature. It also makes future reports due on a biennial rather than annual basis. The Department of Labor had previously been instructed to compile data as to what salary levels would be needed to provide for family living expenses.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Ensure Fair Calculation of Severance Pay for Maine Workers (EMERGENCY)
- Last Update: May 01, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1469This bill provides that the calculation of a week\'s pay under the laws governing severance pay must be made from the date of a layoff if the layoff occurs before the relocation or termination of a covered establishment. The bill applies retroactively to January 1, 2009.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Require Cause for Employment Termination
- Last Update: May 01, 2009
Status: Defeated
LD 1185Senator Craven of Androscoggin would require private employers to show “just cause” for employee terminations.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Defeated | 2009
- An Act To Provide Additional Unemployment Benefits and Make Statutory Revisions in Accordance with t
- Last Update: April 10, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1454Senate President Mitchell makes changes in Maine unemployment laws to enable the state to take advantage of federal stimulus money for extended unemployment benefits.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Amend and Clarify the Application of the Laws Regarding Severance Pay
- Last Update: April 10, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1441Senator Jackson of Aroostook would make several changes to the state’s severance pay law, including providing a presumption that whenever an employer lays off 100 or more employees that layoff constitutes a termination.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Require Licensing for Certain Mechanical Trades
- Last Update: April 03, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1241Representative Wright of Berwick would establish an apprenticeship program and license persons that perform sheet metal work, refrigeration and air conditioning, pipe fitting and sprinkler system installation and repair.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Expand Rights for Maine Families
- Last Update: March 26, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1118Representative Fossel of Alna would guarantee equal rights for registered domestic partners.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Improve Worksite Accountability for Public Construction Projects by Requiring Subcontracto
- Last Update: March 20, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 1092Representative Tuttle of Sanford would require general contractors to post the names of subcontractors and the names of their workers’ compensation insurers at public-funded work sites.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Clarify the Definition of \"Employee\" in the Employment Security Law
- Last Update: March 13, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 987Senator Marrache of Kennebec would exempt from the unemployment compensation law licensed cosmetologists, massage therapists and manicurists who rent space in an establishment owned by another.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Clarify Public Sector Employee Fair Choice in Collective Bargaining
- Last Update: March 13, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 934Under current law, if a state employee organization or public employee organization files a request with a public employer alleging that a majority of the employees in an appropriate bargaining unit wish to be represented for the purpose of collective bargaining, the public employer may request an election to determine whether there exists majority support among the employees for such representation. This bill provides instead that the public employer may request an inspection of the evidence of written majority authorization on the part of the employees.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Require the Development of Plans To Achieve the Payment of Livable Wages by State and Loca
- Last Update: March 05, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 869Representative Butterfield of Bangor would require all public state and local government employers to pay all employees at least a livable wage by July 1, 2012.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Ensure Fair Pay
- Last Update: February 27, 2009
Status: Undetermined
LD 84Representative Simpson of Androscoggin would protect an employee's right to inquire about and disclose, discuss and compare workplace wages.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | Undetermined | 2009
- An Act To Clarify the Minimum Wage Exemption for Summer Camp Counselors Working at Day Camps
- Last Update: February 26, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 685Senator Sullivan of York would clarify the minimum wage exemptions for summer and day camps.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Clarify an Employer's Ability To Collect the Overcompensation of Wages
- Last Update: February 26, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 669Senator Jackson is a concept draft that would limit an employer’s ability to recover an overpayment of wages if the overpayment was due to the employer’s error.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Amend the Maine Workers\' Compensation Act of 1992 To Remove Independent Medical Examiners
- Last Update: February 20, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 617Senator Gerzofsky of Cumberland would remove independent medical examiners from the Maine Workers Comp Act of 1992.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Enable the Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance Company To Better Serve the Needs of All Empl
- Last Update: February 20, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 606Senator Alfond of Cumberland would allow the Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company to offer employment practices liability insurance to policyholders regardless of the number of employees. Currently, businesses must have at least 100 employees to qualify for the insurance.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009
- An Act To Provide Wraparound Medical Coverage in the Workers\' Compensation System
- Last Update: February 20, 2009
Status: In committee
LD 579Representative Miller of Somerville would establish an integrated health insurance program that incorporates health coverage provided by Dirigo Health into the workers’ compensation system.
- FILED UNDER: Wage and Labor Related | In committee | 2009