An Act to Improve Standards for Public Assistance to Employers in the State LR 1652(04)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0561
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_A_H900 (House)
Amends: 36 MRSA §6652

AMENDMENT ·A· to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" 
Bill, 
"An 
Act 
To 
Improve 
Standards 
to Employers in the State" 
to H.P. 424, 
for 
Public 
Amend the amendment by striking out all of sections 1 to 3 
and inserting in their place the following: 
, Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §6652, sub-§§4 and 5 are enacted to read: 
4. 
Bantr1Jl)tcy. 
A person who is a debtor in a bankruptcy 
proceeding pending in United States Bankruptcy Court at the time 
reimbursement would be paid is not eligible for reimbursement 
under this chapter. 
5. 
Wage. compliance and return-to-employment standards. 
In 
order to be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to this chapter, 
a claimant must: 
A. 
Certify upon filing a claim for reimbursement that every 
employee of the claimant receives a living wage and that the 
claimant is in compliance with all federal, state and local 
laws. 
For purposes of this subsection, "living wage" means 
a 
wage, calculated on a calendar-year basis, that is at 
least sufficient to meet the annual basic needs budget as 
most recently published by the Executiye Department, State 
Planning Office; 
B. 
Pay a living wage to every employee of the claimant. 
This 
paragraph 
and 
the 
certification 
requirement 
in 
paragraph A relating to receipt of a living wage do not 
apply if the claimant does not qualify for reimbursement for 
more than $20,QOO in a year; 
Page l-LR1652(4) 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
~. 
~~ 
HOUSE AMENDMENT .ft.. to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 424, L.D. 
C. 
Following the termination of 
any strike or lockout 
involving its employees, 
return to their former jobs all 
employees who wish to be returned to their former jobs: and 
D. 
Comply with all federal, state and local laws. 
The bureau may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement the provisions of this 
subsection. 
The bureau shall suspend or terminate reimbursement 
of a claimant if that claimant fails to file certification as 
reguired by this subsection or if the bureau determines that the 
certification is false or inaccurate. 
The bureau shall implement 
this subsection using existing budgeted resources. 
A claimant 
that violates the liying wage standard under this subsection 
shall reimburse the State for any reimbursement received during 
the per iod of noncompliance. 
A claimant that willfully yiolates 
a proyisiQn Qf this subsectiQn shall reimburse the State for any 
reimbursemS!!nt received during the reimbursemS!!nt period in which 
the yiQlatiQn Qccurred plus a pS!!nalty S!!gual to thS!! amQunt of any 
reimbursemS!!nt 
recdyed 
during 
that 
reimbursement 
period 
in 
additiQn tQ any other penalty rS!!guired by law.' 
Further amend the amendment by 
any 
nonconsecutive 
Part 
letter 
or 
consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
relettering or renumbering 
section 
number 
to 
read 
This amendment limits the application of the bill to the 
program that provides reimbursement for taxes paid on certain 
business property and exempts from the living wage requirement a 
claimant that does not qualify for reimbursement for more than 
$20,000 in a year. 
It strikes provisions relating to retirement 
and health benefits and requires the Department of Administrative 
and Financial Services, Bureau of Revenue Services to implement 
the law using existing budgeted resources. 
SPONSORED BY, JJ.ktJtj ~ 
(Representative HUTTON) 
TOWN: 
Bowdoinham 
FISCAL ~OTE REQUIRED. 
(See attached) 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations! Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 04113/04 ,;t;pae 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD561 
An Act to Improve Standards for Public Assistance to Employers in the 
State 
LR 1652(04) 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment" " to Committee Amendment" " 
Sponsor: Rep. Hutton 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
2004-05 
($134,369) 
($134,369) 
Projections 
2005-06 
($128,466) 
($128,466) 
Projections 
2006-07 
($135,017) 
($135,017) 
This amendment eliminates a General Fund appropriation of $66,770 in fiscal year 2004-05 for Maine Revenue 
Services for one Revenue Agent position and related costs to audit the affected businesses. It also requires Maine 
Revenue Services to implement the additional requirements utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
This amendment also eliminates the General Fund appropriation of $67,599 in fiscal year 2004-05 for one 
Development Project Officer position and related all other costs associated with the Department of Economic and 
Community Development enforcing the certification of the wage and benefit requirements. 
LR1652(4) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1