An Act to Improve Standards for Public Assistance to Employers in the State LR 1652(05)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0561
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_B_H911 (House)
Amends: 36 MRSA §6652

AMENDMENT .. /I;" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
It A" 
Bill, 
"An 
Act 
To 
Improv~ 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. I. 36 MRSA §6652, sub-§§4 and 5 are enacted to read: 
4. 
Bankruptcy. 
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 cmd return-to-emploDt!nt 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 suffic;ient to meet the annual basic needs budget as 
most recently published by the Executive Department. State 
Planning· Office. 
For purposes of this subsection, "living 
wage" 
includes 
the 
value 
of 
health, 
dental 
and 
life 
insurance, any retirement plan and any other fringe benefit 
provided by the claimant: 
B. 
Pay a Ii ving wage to every employee of the claimant. 
This 
paragraph 
and 
the 
certification 
reguirement 
in 
Page l-LR1652(5) 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
HOUSE AMENDMENT "b .. to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 424, L.D. 
paragraph A relating to receipt of a living wage do not 
apply if the claimant does not qualify for reimbursement for 
more than $20.000 in a year: 
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 
~equired 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 1iying wage 
standard under this subsection 
shall reimburse the State for any reimbursement received during 
the period of noncompliance. 
A claimant that willfully violates 
a provision of this subsection shall reimburse the State for any 
reimbursement received during the reimbursement period in which 
the violation occurred plus a penalty equal to the amount of any 
reimbursement 
recei ved 
during 
that 
reimbursement 
period 
in 
addition to any other penalty required by law.' 
Furthe r 
amend 
any 
nonconsecutive 
consecutively. 
the amendment by 
Part 
letter 
or 
relettering or renumbering 
section 
number 
to 
read 
SUNrndARY 
This amendment limits the application of the bill to the 
program that provides reimbursement for taxes paid on certain 
36. 
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. 
It provides that the 
term "living wage" includes the value of health, dental and life 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
.:.6 .. to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 424, L.D. 
insurance, 
any retirement plan and 
any other fringe benefit 
provided by the claimant. 
SPONSORED BY, ~ 
-I ~ 
__ _ 
(Representative HUTTON) t;r 
-, 
TOWN: 
Bowdoinham 
FTSCAL ~OTE REQrJRED 
(Se~,~~.t~che~! 
. 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations! Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 04/14/U4 .:t:vae 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD561 
An Act to Improve Standards for Public Assistance to Employers in the 
State 
LR 1652(05) 
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. 
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