An Act To Provide for a Statewide Contract for School Teachers
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0864
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: POULIOT, TIMBERLAKE, LANGLEY, DAUGHTRY, FARNSWORTH, MARTIN, SAMPSON, STEWART, MAKER

Legislative Document
No. 864
H.P. 613
House of Representatives, March 7, 2017
An Act To Provide for a Statewide Contract for School Teachers
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative POULIOT of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Representative TIMBERLAKE of Turner, Senator LANGLEY of Hancock 
and Representatives: DAUGHTRY of Brunswick, FARNSWORTH of Portland, MARTIN of 
Eagle Lake, SAMPSON of Alfred, STEWART of Presque Isle, Senator: MAKER of 
Washington.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 513 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 513 
STATEWIDE TEACHER CONTRACT 
§14001.  Statewide teacher contract 
Beginning January 1, 2021, a public employer acting on behalf of a school 
administrative unit is represented in collective bargaining by the Governor or the 
Governor's designee representing the executive branch pursuant to Title 26, section 
979-A, subsection 5.  For purposes of this section, "public employer" has the same 
meaning as in Title 26, section 962, subsection 7. 
Sec. 2.  Plan to implement statewide collective bargaining for teachers.  
The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, referred to in this section as 
"the department," shall develop a plan to implement statewide collective bargaining for 
public school teachers beginning January 1, 2021. 
1. Policy goals. The plan developed by the department must be designed to: 
A.  Permit school administrative units to maintain local control and direction of 
teacher employment; 
B.  Include for all public school teachers a uniform compensation system that is based 
upon performance results that are competitive and fair throughout the State; and 
C.  Maximize opportunities for certain economies of scale through the statewide 
negotiation of public school teachers' benefits, including, but not limited to, health 
insurance. 
2. Participation; input.  In the development of the plan, the department shall invite 
the participation of the Commissioner of Education, the Maine Public Employees 
Retirement System, the Maine State Employees Association, the Maine Education 
Association and the Maine School Superintendents Association. 
3. Plan details.  At a minimum, the plan developed by the department must: 
A.  Identify a single entity to bargain on behalf of the teachers and a single entity to 
bargain on behalf of the State; 
B.  Identify those issues that will be bargained for on a statewide level and those 
issues, if any, that will be determined by local school boards; 
C.  Identify the components of the salary schedule; 
D.  Determine a benefits provider or providers; and 
E.  Outline the procedure for resolution of contract disputes. 
4. Report; submission of proposed implementing legislation.  No later than 
December 6, 2017, the department shall submit a report that includes its plan and 
recommendations, including proposed implementing legislation, for introduction to the 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides for statewide collective bargaining for teachers beginning January 
1, 2021.  The bill directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to 
develop a plan to implement statewide collective bargaining for teachers and requires that 
the plan be designed to permit school administrative units to maintain local control and 
direction of teacher employment; to include for all public school teachers a uniform 
compensation system that is based upon performance results that are competitive and fair 
throughout the State; and to maximize opportunities for certain economies of scale 
through the statewide negotiation of teachers' benefits, including, but not limited to, 
health insurance.  The department is directed to submit its plan, together with proposed 
implementing legislation, for introduction to the Second Regular Session of the 128th 
Legislature.