Resolve, To Establish the Study Commission Regarding Liveable Wages
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1236
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: LERMAN, GERZOFSKY, HUTTON, JACKSON, PATRICK, SMITH, BARTLETT, STRIMLING

Legislative Document 
No. 1236 
H.P.854 
House of Representatives, March 10,2005 
Resolve, To Establish the Study Commission Regarding Liveable 
Wages 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative LERMAN of Augusta. 
/J1~ 
111· 7l/P£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
.. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: GERZOFSKY of Brunswick, HUTTON of Bowdoinham, 
JACKSON of Fort Kent, PATRICK of Rumford, SMITH of Van Buren, Senators: 
BARTLETT of Cumberland, STRIMLING of Cumberland. 
Printed on rCl.:ycled paper 
Emergency 
preamble~ Whereas, acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
90' 
days 
after 
Whereas, thi s 
Regarding Liveable 
issues confronting 
liveable wage; and 
resolve 
establishes 
the 
Study 
Commission 
Wages to define a liveable wage and study the 
citizens of this State who earn less than a 
10' 
Whereas, the 
study must 
be initiated before 
the 
9O'-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the ne'xt legislative 
session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
20' 
Sec. 1. 
Commission established. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Study 
Commission Regarding Liveable Wages, referred to in this resolve 
as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of the following members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Two Senators appointed by the President of the Senate; 
30' 
2. 
Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
3. 
A member of the religious community, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
4. 
A representative of organized labor, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
5. 
A representative 
from 
a 
community 
agency 
providing 
40' 
education or training services to low-income people, appointed by 
the President of the Senate; 
6. 
A representative of an organization 
who 
provide 
personal 
assistance 
services, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
representing those 
appointed 
by 
the 
7. 
A working single parent who has minor children and earns 
less than 15O''l-o of the federal poverty level, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
50' 
Page l-LR1791(1) 
8. 
A representative of the Maine Development Foundation, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
9. 
The 
following 
representatives, 
appointed 
by 
the 
Governor: 
A. 
A representative from an organization whose purpose it 
is to advance the position of women; 
B. 
A representative from an organization that advocates for 
low-income people; and 
C. 
A representative 
from 
an 
agency providing community 
economic development services; 
10. 
The Director of the State Planning Office; 
11. 
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, or the 
commissioner's designee; and 
12. 
The 
Commissioner 
of 
Labor, 
designee; and be it further 
or 
the 
commissioner's 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the commission and the first-named House 
~6 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: 
That 
all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall study the 
issues surrounding liveable wages. 
In conducting its review, the 
commission shall undertake to: 
1. 
Define what level of compensation constitutes a liveable 
'12 
wage; 
2. 
Identify ways to ensure that all Maine adults earn a 
liveable wage; 
3. 
Examine the efficacy of a state earned income tax credit 
that would enable working families to meet their basic needs; 
4. 
Examine how increased access to education and training 
and access to child care increases the likelihood of earning a 
liveable wage and identify means of increasing such access; 
5. 
Identify the number of people in Maine who earn less 
than a liveable wage: and 
6. 
Examine 
how 
state policies 
and 
payments, 
including 
MaineCare 
and 
other 
state 
health 
care 
related 
payments, 
contribute to the number of Mainers who earn less than a liveable 
wage: and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the 
be it further 
approval of the 
Legal Analysis 
commission; and 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the commission are entitled to receive the legislative per 
diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 
2, 
and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses 
related 
to 
their 
attendance 
at 
authorized 
meetings 
of 
the 
commission. 
Public members not otherwise compensated by their 
employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to 
receive 
reimbursement 
of 
necessary 
expenses 
and, 
upon 
a 
demonstration of financial hardship, 
a per diem equal to the 
legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings 
of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than November 
2, 
2005, 
the commission shall submit a 
report that includes its 
findings 
and 
recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 
122nd 
Legislature. 
The 
commission 
is 
authorized 
to 
introduce 
legislation related to its report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 122nd Legislature at the time of submission of its report; 
and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the commission requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Commission budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the 
commission, 
with assistance 
from 
the 
commission staff, 
shall 
administer the commission's budget. 
Within 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the commission shall present a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
commission may 
not incur expenses 
that would 
result in the 
commission's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from 
the commission, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
shall promptly provide the commission chairs and staff with a 
status report on the commission budget, expenditures incurred and 
paid and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This 
resolve establishes 
the 
Study 
Commission 
Regarding 
Liveable Wages.