An Act To Enhance the Workers' Compensation Board Advocate Program
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1439
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: NUTTING, CRESSEY, BARTLETT, DOW, STRIMLING, CLARK, HOLMAN, TUTTLE
Amends: 2 MRSA §6-E, 39-A MRSA §153-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1439 
S.P.506 
March 15,2007 
An Act To Enhance the Workers' Compensation Board Advocate 
Program 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative CRESSEY of Com ish and Senators: BARTLETT of 
Cumberland, DOW of Lincoln, STRIMLING of Cumberland, Representatives: CLARK of 
Millinocket, HOLMAN of Fayette, TUTTLE of Sanford. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 2 MRSA §6-E, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 145, § I, is amended to 
read: 
2. General counsel. The salary of the general counsel is within salary range U 89. 
Sec. 2. 39-A MRSA §153-A, sub-§3, ~A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 486, §4, is 
amended to read: 
A. The minimum qualifications for employment as an advocate must include at least 
the following: 
(1) A €i year eOR'lbiAatioA of appropriate eJi:perieAce, edHcatioA aAd traiAiAg iA 
ad,'oeacy or displ:lte resoll:ltioA; 
II 
(I-A) Admission to practice law in the State and current registration with the 
Board of Overseers of the Bar or eligibility for admission to practice law in the 
State, as long as the advocate is admitted to practice law in the State and is 
registered with the Board of Overseers of the Bar within 12 months of the date 
the advocate was hired; 
(2) Knowledge of administrative, adjudicatory or workers' compensation laws, 
rules and procedures; 
(3) Knowledge of legal documents, court procedures and rules of evidence; and 
(4) Knowledge of medical and legal terminology and practices with respect to 
workers' compensation. 
Sec. 3. Transition. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 39-A, 
section 153-A, subsection 3, paragraph A-I, an individual that is employed by the 
Workers' Compensation Board as an advocate on the effective date of this Act continues 
to serve as an advocate regardless of whether that individual meets the minimum 
qualifications established by this Act. An advocate hired on or after the effective date of 
this Act must meet the minimum qualifications established by this Act. An individual 
employed by the Workers' Compensation Board as a paralegal assistant on the effective 
date of this Act continues to serve as a paralegal subject to the applicable collective 
bargaining agreement. 
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
I 
allocations are made. 
WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD 
Administration - Workers' Compensation Board 
Initiative: 
Allocates funds for reclassification of 11 Worker Advocate positions from 
range 24 to range 27, reclassification of one Worker Advocate position (range 24) to 
Deputy Senior Staff Attorney Position (range 29), reclassification of I Senior Staff 
Attorney position from range 29 to range 33, reclassification of I General Counsel 
position from range 86 to range 89, and reclassification of 6 Paralegal Assistant positions 
(range 18) to Paralegal positions (range 20). 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
Personal Services 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2007-08 
$161,249 
$16 1.249 
2008-09 
$161,249 
$161,249 
This bill requires that individuals hired as worker advocates by the Workers' 
Compensation Board on or after the effective date of this legislation either be admitted to 
practice law in the State or be eligible to practice law in the State upon hiring and, within 
months of hiring, be admitted to practice law in the State. 
This bill also increases the salary of the general counsel from salary range 86 to 
salary range 89 and reclassifies numerous additional positions.