An Act To Calculate the Livable Wage and Measure the Bureaucratic Costs To Subsidize Workers Paid Less Than a Livable Wage
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1445
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: BURNS, STRIMLING, CANAVAN, CARTER, FARRINGTON, HARLOW, HAYES, HINCK, WALCOTT, WEA VER
Amends: 26 MRSA §140, 26 MRSA §1406

Legislative Document 
No. 1445 
H.P.1014 
House of Representatives, March 15,2007 
An Act To Calculate the Livable Wage and Measure the 
Bureaucratic Costs To Subsidize Workers Paid Less Than a Livable 
Wage 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BURNS of Berwick. 
Cosponsored by Senator STRIMLING of Cumberland and 
'77/~ /J1.7J1~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CANAVAN of Waterville, CARTER of Bethel, FARRINGTON of Gorham, 
HARLOW of Portland, HAYES of Buckfield, HINCK of Portland, WALCOTT of Lewiston, 
WEA VER of York. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §l-A is enacted to read: 
§l-A. "Livable wage" defined 
As used in this Title, unless the context otherwise indicates, "livable wage" means the 
statewide average livable wage for a single-parent, one-child household as reported by 
the Department of Labor in the most recent annual report required pursuant to section 
1405. 
Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §140S is enacted to read: 
§1405. Livable wages; calculation 
1. 
Calculation. By December 31, 2007 and annually thereafter, the department 
shall calculate livable wages for households in the State's counties and metropolitan 
statistical areas by family size and as statewide averages by developing an annual basic 
needs budget for the following family sizes: 
A. 
Single person; 
B. 
Single parent and one child; 
C. 
Single parent and 2 children; 
D. 
Two parents, with one earner and 2 children; and 
E. 
Two parents, with 2 earners and 2 children. 
By January 30, 2008 and annually thereafter, the department shall report the livable 
wages calculated pursuant to this subsection to the Legislature. 
Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §1406 is enacted to read: 
§1406. 
Measurement of costs to workers paid less than a livable wage; 
measurement of bureaucratic costs to subsidize workers paid less than a 
livable wage 
1. Measurement of costs to workers paid less than a livable wage. By December 
31, 2008 and annually thereafter, the department shall measure for the preceding calendar 
year the total statewide difference between the total livable wages for those workers paid 
less than a livable wage, as calculated pursuant to section 1405, and the total actual wages 
paid those same workers for that year. The department shall also calculate the average 
difference per worker paid less than a livable wage. 
2. 
Measurement of bureaucratic costs to subsidize workers paid less than a 
livable wage. 
By December 31, 2008 and annually thereafter, the department shall 
produce a report that quantifies and summarizes data gathered and analyzed from all 
federal, state and local social service agencies and offices regarding the costs of providing 
direct services to all workers in the State paid less than a livable wage, as calculated 
pursuant to section 1405. 
I 
By January 30th of each year, the department shall submit its measurements and reports 
pursuant to this section to the Legislature. 
Sec. 4. 
Livable wage calculation. In calculating the livable wages pursuant to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 1405, the Department of Labor shall use the 
methodology set forth by the Maine Center for Economic Policy in the report entitled 
"Getting By: Maine Livable Wages in 2004." 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the Department of Labor to annually calculate the livable wages for 
various household sizes using the methodology employed by the Maine Center for 
Economic Policy and to report the livable wage calculations to the Legislature. The bill 
1 
also defines "livable wage" and requires the department to measure and report on the 
costs to workers paid less than a livable wage and the bureaucratic costs to subsidize 
workers paid less than a livable wage.