An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Pine Tree Development Zones To Require Payment of a Livable Wage
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0116
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SHAW, DUTREMBLE, COTTA, DION, TIMBERLAKE, VOLK, HASKELL, VALENTINO
Amends: 26 MRSA §1406, 30-A MRSA §5250-I, 30-A MRSA §5250-S

Legislative Document 
No. 116 
H.P. 98 
House of Representatives, January 29, 2013 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Pine Tree Development 
Zones To Require Payment of a Livable Wage 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative SHAW of Standish. 
Cosponsored by Senator DUTREMBLE of York and 
Representatives: COTTA of China, DION of Portland, McCLELLAN of Raymond, 
TIMBERLAKE of Turner, VOLK of Scarborough, Senators: HASKELL of Cumberland, 
VALENTINO of York. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §1406, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 569, §3, is amended to read: 
§1406.  Calculation of livable wage 
By July 1, 2013 and biennially thereafter, the department shall calculate the livable 
wage and develop a basic needs budget for households in this State and in each of the 
State's counties based on, at a minimum, a 2-parent household with 2 earners and 2 
children representative family size, but only if funding has been appropriated for these 
purposes. 
By December 1, 2013 and biennially thereafter, the department shall report the 
livable wages calculated and the basic needs budget for households developed pursuant to 
this section to the Legislature if funds have been appropriated for these purposes. 
Sec. 2.  30-A MRSA §5250-I, sub-§18, as amended by PL 2005, c. 351, §4 and 
affected by §26, is further amended to read: 
18.  Qualified Pine Tree Development Zone employees.  "Qualified Pine Tree 
Development Zone employees" means new, full-time employees hired in this State by a 
qualified Pine Tree Development Zone business for work directly in one or more 
qualified business activities for whom a retirement program subject to the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 United States Code, Sections 101 to 1461, as 
amended, and group health insurance are provided and whose income derived from 
employment within the Pine Tree Development Zone, calculated on a calendar year basis, 
is greater than the most recent annual per capita personal income in who are paid at least 
a livable wage for the county in which the qualified employee is employed as calculated 
by the Department of Labor pursuant to Title 26, section 1406 for a 2-parent household 
with 2 earners and 2 children representative family size.  "Qualified Pine Tree 
Development Zone employees" does not include employees shifted to a qualified 
business activity from a nonqualified activity of the qualified Pine Tree Development 
Zone business or an affiliated business.  The commissioner shall determine whether a 
shifting of employees has occurred. 
Sec. 3.  30-A MRSA §5250-S, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 468, §1, 
is further amended to read: 
B.  Makes a written commitment to expand its business at one of its current locations 
in the State by adding at the location of expansion a minimum of 4 net new, full-time 
employees for whom a retirement program subject to the federal Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 United States Code, Sections 1001 to 
1461, as amended, and group health coverage are provided and whose income 
derived from employment at the business's location of expansion, calculated on a 
calendar-year basis, is greater than the most recent annual per capita personal income 
in who are paid at least a livable wage for the county in which the employee is 
employed as calculated by the Department of Labor pursuant to Title 26, section 
1406 for a 2-parent household with 2 earners and 2 children representative family 
size; and 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that a qualified employee under the Pine Tree Development Zone 
program be paid at least a livable wage for the county in which the employee is 
employed.  Current law requires that such an employee be paid an amount greater than 
the annual per capita personal income for the county in which the employee is employed.  
This bill also requires the Department of Labor to calculate the livable wage biennially by 
county and statewide.  Current law requires the department to calculate the statewide 
livable wage only if funding has been appropriated for that purpose.