An Act To Ensure That Wages and Benefits of Maine State Employees Serve a Public Purpose
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1319
Committee Amendment CA_A_H346 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 897, L.D. 1319, Bill, "An Act To 
Ensure That Wages and Benefits of Maine State Employees Serve a Public Purpose" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Study the Effect of Compensated Union Leave in State Collective 
Bargaining Contracts' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the State is party to collective bargaining contracts that allow employees 
the right to compensated leave for activities involving the employees' collective 
bargaining agent, also known as union leave or organizational leave; and 
Whereas, these collective bargaining agent activities have no bearing on the tasks 
for which such state employees have been hired by the State; and 
Whereas, it is currently unclear the extent of the impact of compensated union leave 
on state resources and the benefit of such leave to the State; and 
Whereas, state resources are extremely limited and it is in the best interest of the 
citizens of the State that state resources are spent as efficiently as possible; and 
Whereas, the study authorized by this resolve must be initiated before the 90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report produced in time for 
submission to the next 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 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE ANIDNDMENT "R" to H.P. 897, L.D. 1319 
Sec. 1. 
The Study Commission on State Union Leave established. 
Resolved: That the Study Commission on State Union Leave, referred to in this resolve 
as lithe study commission" is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Study commission membership. 
Resolved: 
That the study 
commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows: 
1. Six members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows: 
A. Four members of the Senate, 2 from each of the 2 parties holding the largest 
number of seats in the Legislature; 
B. A representative of the Maine Labor Relations Board; and 
C. A representative of the judicial branch; 
2. Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows: 
A. Four members of the House of Representatives, 2 from each of the 2 parties 
holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; and 
B. A representative of the Maine State Employees Association; 
3. The Executive Director of the Legislative Councilor the executive director's 
designee; and 
4. 
The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services or the 
commissioner's designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the fIrst-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the fIrst-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
study commission; and be it further 
Sec. 4. 
Appointments; convening of the study 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. After appointmept of all 
members, the chairs shall call and convene the fIrst meeting of the study commission. If 
days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all 
appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative 
Council may grant authority for the study commission to meet and conduct its business; 
and be it further . 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the study commission shall conduct a study on 
the impact of state-compensated leave for an employee to participate in activities related 
to the employee's collective bargaining agent, both in terms of overall fmancial cost to the 
State and in terms of lost employee time, and on the benefits of such leave to the State; 
and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the study commission; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 2, 2015, the study 
commission shall submit a report that includes its fmdings and recommendations, . 
including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Page2 -127LR1278(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMWTTEEAMENDMENT "A"to H.P. 897, L.D. 1319 
Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development, which may report out a bill 
related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve that establishes the Study 
Commission on State Union Leave to study the impact of the practice of state-
compensated leave for an employee to participate in activities related to the employee's 
collective bargaining agent, both in terms of overall financial cost to the State and in 
terms of lost employee time, and to also study the benefits of such leave to the State. The 
study commission must report back on its findings and recommendations by December 2, 
2015, and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic 
Development may report out a hill related to the report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQllRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 06/07115 
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LD 1319 
LR 1278(02) 
An Act To Ensure That Wages and Benefits of Maine State Employees Serve a Public Purpose 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''ft' (f/-34&J 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $4,250 in fiscal year 2015 -16. The Legislature's 
proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 for legislative studies. Whether this amount is sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The 
additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing 
bUdgeted s[a[[ resources. If more than 4 meetings are held during the interim the estimated cost for each additional 
meeting is projected to be $1,000 for legislative per diem and expenses. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Maine Labor Relations Board and the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to 
serve as members of the Study on State Union Leave can he ab~orbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1278(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1