Resolve, Establishing the CODUllission To Study Eliminating the Normal Retirement Age for Corrections Officers and Mental Health Workers Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting in its place the following: Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and Whereas, the Commission To Study Eliminating the Normal Retirement Age for Corrections Officers and Mental Health Workers is established in this resolve to address problems of inconsistency in retirement benefits and the need for earlier retirement for corrections officers and mental health workers; and Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next Legislature; 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 Page l-LR0129(6) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0748
Committee Amendment CA_B_S432 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 5" to S.P. 246, L.D. 748, Bill, "An 
Act Requiring Equal Retirement Benefits for Corrections Officers 
and Mental Health Workers with 25 Years of State Service" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Resolve, Establishing the CODUllission To Study Eliminating the 
Normal Retirement Age for Corrections Officers and Mental Health 
Workers' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
title and inserting in its place the following: 
'Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, acts and resolves of the 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
days 
after 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Commission To Study Eliminating the Normal 
Retirement Age for Corrections Officers and Mental Health Workers 
is 
established 
in 
this 
resolve 
to 
address 
problems 
of 
inconsistency in retirement benefits and the need for earlier 
retirement for corrections officers and mental health workers; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next Legislature; 
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 
Page l-LR0129(6) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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'< .~'" '::.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 33 .. to S.P. 246, L.D. 748 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: 
That the Commission 
To Study Eliminating the Normal Retirement Age for Corrections 
Officers and Mental Health Workers, referred to in this resolve 
as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission 
consists of 9 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of 
the Senate: 
2. 
Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House; 
3. 
One member representing corrections officers, appointed 
by the President of the Senate; 
4. 
One member representing employers of mental health 
workers, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
5. 
One 
member 
representing 
employers 
of 
corrections 
officers, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 
6. 
One member representing mental health workers, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House; and be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Chairs. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the commission and the first-named House 
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, which must be no later than July 
15, 2006; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission may hold up to 4 
meetings and shall study the following issues: 
1. 
Whether corrections officers and mental health workers 
should have uniform retirement benefits; 
2. 
Whether corrections officers and mental health workers, 
regardless of their age, should be eligible to retire after 25 
years of service without a reduction in benefits; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
:i '.~\~ 
'.,. ~> "'. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 3 .. to S.P. 246, L.D. 748 
3. 
Which job classifications should be included in this 
retirement plan, if the plan is recommended by the commission; and 
4. 
possible ways of funding this retirement plan, if the 
plan is recommended by the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council 
shall provide necessary stpffing services to the commission; and 
be it further 
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 1, 
2006, the commission shall submit a report that includes its 
findings 
and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for 
presentation to 
the 
joint standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction 
over 
labor 
matters 
and 
the 
Legislative Council. 
The commission is authorized to introduce 
legislation related to its report to the First Regular Session of 
the 123rd 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. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ~" to S.P. 246, L.D. 748 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency ci ted in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. I 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and makes it a resolve. It 
creates the Commission To Study Eliminating the Normal Retirement 
Age for Corrections Officers and Mental Health Workers for the 
purpose of 
studying whether 
corrections officers 
and mental 
health workers should receive uniform benefits and be eligible to 
retire after 25 years of service without a reduction in benefits 
regardless of age. 
Membership of the 
commission includes 
representatives of corrections officers and mental health workers 
and 5 Legislators. 
The commission is authorized to submit 
legislation to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature 
by November 1, 2006. 
FISC-\L \OTE HEQlIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 12116/05 ;t;?ac 
LD748 
LR 0129(06) 
An Act Requiring Equal Retirement Benefits for Corrections Officers and Mental Health Workers 
with 25 Years of State Service 
Legislative Study 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '33' 
Committee: Labor 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Current Costs - Legislative Study 
The projected costs to fund the general operating expenses of the Commission to Study Eliminating the Nonnal 
Retirement Age for Corrections Officers and Mental Health Workers is $2,900 in fiscal year 2006-07. The 
Legislature's budget for legislative studies is $20,000 for fiscal year 2006-07. Whether this amount is sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. 
If, during the course of the Commission's work, the services of the Maine State Retirement System's actuary is needed, 
there will be additional costs to the Retirement System associated with the actuarial fees. The amount, and the ability 
of the Retirement System to absorb those costs without a General Fund appropriation, can not be determined at this 
time. 
LR0129(6) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1