Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor To Develop the Family Security Fund To Implement the Recommendations of the Committee to Continue to Study the Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families Reported by Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner for the Committee to Continue to Study the Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families pursuant to Resolve 2001, chapter 115.
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0752
Committee: Labor

12lst MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 752 
H.P.567 
House of Representatives, February 18,2003 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor To Develop the Family 
Security Fund To Implement the Recommendations of the 
Committee to Continue to Study the Benefits and Costs for 
Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families 
Reported by Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner for the Committee to Continue to Study the 
Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families 
pursuant to Resolve 2001, chapter 115. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed under Joint Rule 218. 
Printed on recycled paper 
!r/~/J7.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Sec. 1. Development of Family Security Fund. Resolved: That the 
Department of Labor shall develop the Family Security Fund, an 
insurance program covering temporary disabilities for employees 
in the State, to provide a source of income to employees while 
they are unable to work due to illness or pregnancy. 
The program 
must include the following elements. 
1. 
The program must include a 
maximum duration of leave of 
weeks. 
2. 
An 
employer 
must 
have 
the 
option 
state-operated program, 
or 
an equivalent or 
plan, with no additional cost to employees. 
of 
selecting 
a 
superior private 
3. 
The employer must pay at least 1/2 of the premium and 
may pay the entire premium. 
4. 
All private employers with one or more employees must 
participate. 
The program is optional for government entities. 
5. 
Persons in family employment are excluded. 
6. 
For 
an 
employee 
to 
employee must have had earnings 
be 
eligible 
for 
benefits, 
the 
in 12 of the previous 52 weeks. 
7. 
The weekly benefit rate is 66 
2/3 qb of the employee's 
average weekly wage in the highest 2 quarters in the last 52 
weeks. 
The weekly benefit cap is 
100°,,<> 
of the state average 
weekly wage. 
8. 
The maximum limit on employee payroll deductions is 90¢ 
per 
week. 
The 
actual 
amount 
of 
an 
individual 
employee's 
contribution up to this cap must be determined by a sliding scale 
based on wages. 
9. 
Benefits must 
be 
reduced by 
unemployment 
insurance, 
workers' compensation and sick pay. 
Benefits may not be reduced 
by other disability benefits, pension payments or other earnings. 
10. 
The waiting per iod before 
howeve r , 
a bene fit payment for the 
retroactively if the disability lasts 
benefits begin is 
days; 
first 7 days must be made 
weeks or more. 
11. 
Coverage for childbirth begins 2 weeks before the due 
date and continues for 12 weeks after delivery. 
12. 
Complications of childbirth must be evaluated as 
a 
disability and must be covered for up to 26 weeks. 
Page l-LR009l(1) 
13. 
While 
an employee is 
rece~v~ng disability benefits, 
that employee's job is protected; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Legislation. Resolved: 
That the Department of Labor 
shall report back to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor with 
proposed legislation to implement the Family Security Fund no 
later than November 1, 2003; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: 
That the Department of Labor shall 
report back on November 1, 2006 to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters to 
evaluate program effectiveness 
and consider 
including in the 
program leave for the illness of a parent, child or spouse or 
materni ty and paternity leave for the birth or adoption of a 
child. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires the Department of Labor to develop the 
Family 
Security 
Fund, 
an 
insurance 
program 
for 
temporary 
disabilities, based on the recommendations of the Committee to 
Continue to Study the Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to 
Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families. 
It further requires 
that the Department of Labor propose legislation to implement the 
Family Security Fund to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor by 
November 1, 2003. 
It also requires the Department of Labor to 
report back to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over labor matters by November 1, 
2006 on 
program effectiveness.