An Act To Enact the Toxic Chemicals in the Workplace Act
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0699
Committee Amendment CA_A_H135 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 490, L.D. 699, Bill, "An Act To Enact 
the Toxic Chemicals in the Workplace Act" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish the Task Force on the Substitution of Highly Toxic Chemicals 
in the Workplace' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That, no later than October 1, 2017, 
the Commissioner of Labor, referred to in this resolve as "the commissioner, 
shall 
convene a task force, referred to in this resolve as 
11the Task Force on the Substitution of 
Highly Toxic Chemicals in the Workplace" or 
11the task force, 
to develop procedures and 
guidelines to assist nonagricultural employers in implementing a program for the 
substitution of highly toxic and hazardous chemicals in the workplace; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the membership of the task 
force is governed by this section. 
1. The commissioner shall invite the participation of: 
A. An equal number of nonmanagement employees and management employees or 
employers from manufacturing, retail and service industrial sectors; 
B. 
An equal number of union representatives from trade unions representing 
manufacturing, retail and service industrial sectors and representatives of trade 
associations that represent those industrial sectors; and 
C. One or more independent scientific experts with specialties in and knowledge of 
toxicology and the human health effects of occupational exposure to highly toxic and 
hazardous chemicals who do not receive remuneration from any industty or 
organization in exchange for their pa1ticipation, except that the expert or experts may 
receive compensation from a college or university based in the State. 
2. The commissioner may invite the participation of: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "ft" to H.P. 490, L.D. 699 
A. Representatives of an organization with a mission of protecting worker health and 
safety; and 
B. Representatives of an organization that advances the interests of business leaders 
in the State. 
Industrial sectors represented on the task force may include, but are not limited to, the 
following manufacturing, retail and service sectors: automotive, auto body repair, 
shipbuilding, paper manufacturing, manufacturing of apparel or apparel components, 
medical equipment, construction, personal care product or feminine product 
manufacturing, coatings, textiles, lumber, plastics, technology and cleaning and janitorial 
services; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall: 
1. Identify priority chemicals, industries and occupations; 
2. Consider the classes of highly toxic chemicals; 
3. Identify publicly accessible website lists of online databases that identify highly 
toxic chemicals and hazardous chemicals; 
4. 
Identify safer alternative chemicals that may be substituted for highly toxic 
chemicals and hazardous chemicals currently employed in industrial uses; and 
5. 
Develop guidelines, including steps for the substitution of highly toxic and 
hazardous chemicals, to assist employers in deciding whether substituting a highly toxic 
and hazardous chemical is feasible for their business operations. The Department of 
Labor shall refer to the federal Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration guide, "Transitioning to Safer Chemicals: A Toolkit for Employers and 
Workers," as a basis document for developing these guidelines; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That the commissioner shall submit a report of the task 
force's findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, 
Commerce, Research and Economic Development no later than December 15, 2017.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development, replaces the bill with a resolve 
directing the Commissioner of Labor to convene a task force to develop procedures and 
guidelines to assist nonagricultural employers in implementing a program for the 
substitution of highly toxic and hazardous chemicals in the workplace. 
The 
commissioner must submit a report of the task force's :findings and recommendations to 
the committee no later than December 15, 2017. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/21/17 feae 
LD699 
LR 1218(02) 
An Act To Enact the Toxic Chemicals in the Workplace Act 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ·~,( H -) 3 5j 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Labor to convene a task force to develop procedures and guidelines related to 
implementing a program for the substitution of highly toxic and hazardous chemicals in the workplace and prepare a 
required report can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1218(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1