An Act To Improve Public Sector Labor Relations
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1177
Committee Amendment CA_A_S308 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ft" to S.P. 363, L.D. 1177, Bill, "An Act To 
Improve Public Sector Labor Relations" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 4 by inserting at the end the following: 
'In reaching a decision under this subsection, the arbitrator shall consider the following: 
A. The interests and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the public 
employer to finance the cost items proposed by each party to the impasse; 
B. A comparison of the wages, hours and working conditions of the employees 
involved in the arbitration proceeding with the wages, hours and working conditions 
of other employees performing similar services in public and private employment in 
other jurisdictions competing in the same labor market; 
C. The overall compensation presently received by the employees including direct 
wage compensation, vacation, holidays and excused time, insurance and pensions, 
medical and hospitalization benefits, the continuity and stability of employment and 
all other benefits received; 
D. Factors other than those specified in paragraphs A to C that are normally and 
traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of wages, hours and 
working conditions through voluntary collective bargaining. mediation. fact-finding. 
arbitration or otherwise between the parties. in public or private employment, 
including the average consumer price index; 
E. The need of the public employer for qualified employees; 
F. Conditions of employment in similar occupations outside public employment; 
G. The need to maintain appropriate relationships between different occupations in 
public employment; and 
H. 
The need to establish fair and reasonable conditions in relation to job 
qualifications and responsibilities.' 
Amend the bill by adding after section 5 the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" fJr "to S.P. 363, L.D. 1177 ( S· 3tc6') 
'Sec. 6. Effective date. This Act ta1ces effect July 1, 2020.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds specific factors an arbitrator must consider when a controversy 
is not resolved between a public employer and bargaining agent under the municipal 
public employees labor relations law. This amendment delays the effective date of the 
changes made in the bill until July 1, 2020. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Revised: 06/17 /19 j!;,/ac. 
LD 1177 
LR 1017(02) 
An Act To Improve Public Sector Labor Relations 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ';tJ"lS--3oi) 
Committee: Labor and Housing 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - All Funds 
Potential current biennium cost increase - University of Maine System 
Potential current biennium cost increase - Local units of government 
Current law regarding labor relations for municipal public employees, University of Maine System employees and 
state employees including judicial employees provides that the determination of an arbitrator regarding salaries, 
pensions and insurance is advisory only. This legislation changes the law to provide that an arbitrator's determination 
regarding these issues is binding on all parties. This may result in increased personnel and other direct and indirect 
costs to the employers of these public employees if, as a result of the arbitrator's decision, salary, pension or insurance 
costs increase more than they would have absent this legislation. The impact cannot be determined at this time. 
Additional costs to the Maine Labor Relations Board can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LRlO 17(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1