An Act To Reform Corrections Officer Compensation in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1941
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: PLUECKER, DOW, BRYANT, COREY, EVANGELOS, MAXMIN, TALBOT ROSS, CARPENTER, DESCHAMBAULT, MIRAMANT

Legislative Document
No. 1941
H.P. 1385
House of Representatives, January 8, 2020
An Act To Reform Corrections Officer Compensation in Maine
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PLUECKER of Warren.
Cosponsored by Senator DOW of Lincoln and
Representatives: BRYANT of Windham, COREY of Windham, EVANGELOS of Friendship, 
MAXMIN of Nobleboro, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, Senators: CARPENTER of Aroostook, 
DESCHAMBAULT of York, MIRAMANT of Knox.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, there is currently a severe and chronic shortage of corrections officers in 
this State; and
Whereas, this shortage has resulted in mandatory overtime for current corrections 
officers, which has resulted in lower morale and serious safety issues, not only at the 
correctional facilities but for the corrections officers personally; and
Whereas, it is imperative that action be taken as soon as possible to alleviate this 
shortage; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Adjustment of salary schedules for corrections officers.  
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, effective for the first pay 
period commencing on or after the effective date of this Act, the salary schedules for 
corrections officers must be adjusted upward to equal the salary schedule for a law 
enforcement officer in the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police.  For 
purposes of this section, "corrections officer" means an employee of the State whose 
place of employment is a state correctional facility and who is responsible for the care, 
custody or direct supervision of a person confined in a state correctional facility or 
committed to the Long Creek Youth Development Center pursuant to an order of a court 
or as a result of an arrest or detention.  For purposes of this section, "state correctional 
facility" has the same meaning as "correctional facility" in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 34-A, section 1001, subsection 6 and includes the Long Creek Youth Development 
Center.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the rate of pay for corrections officers working in state correctional 
facilities, including the Long Creek Youth Development Center, to equal the rate of pay 
for law enforcement officers in the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police.