An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the State Compensation Commission
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2115
Committee: State and Local Government
Amends: 2 MRSA §1, 2 MRSA §2, 3 MRSA §2, 3 MRSA §2-B, 4 MRSA §4, 4 MRSA §6-B, 4 MRSA §102, 4 MRSA §157

Legislative Document
No. 2115
H.P. 1508
House of Representatives, February 20, 2020
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the State 
Compensation Commission
Reported by Representative MARTIN of Sinclair for the Joint Standing Committee on 
State and Local Government pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2-B, 
subsection 2.
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  2 MRSA §1, 3rd ¶, as amended by PL 2019, c. 475, §6, is further 
amended to read:
Until the first Wednesday of January 1987, the Governor receives an annual salary of 
$35,000.  Beginning the first Wednesday of January 1987, the Governor is entitled to 
receive an annual salary of $70,000.  Beginning the first Wednesday of January following 
the election of a Governor who is not in office on December 2, 2020, the Governor is 
entitled to receive an annual salary of $135,000.
Sec. 2.  2 MRSA §2, as amended by PL 2019, c. 475, §9, is further amended to 
read:
§2.  Expense account
The "Governor's Expense Account" must be credited with those amounts that are 
appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose. This appropriation must be available for 
expenditure by the Governor at the Governor's discretion. This account is not subject to 
audit, except as to total amount to be paid.  Beginning the first Wednesday of January 
following the election of a Governor who is not in office on December 2, 2020, the 
Governor's Expense Account must be provided $40,000 per year.
Sec. 3.  3 MRSA §2, first ¶, as amended by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. QQQQ, §1, is 
further amended to read:
Each Until the first Wednesday of December 2020, each member of the Senate and 
House of Representatives, beginning with the first Wednesday of December 2000 and 
thereafter, is entitled to $10,815 in the first year and $7,725 in the 2nd year of each 
biennium, except that if a Legislator who is a recipient of retirement benefits from the 
federal Social Security Administration files a written request with the Executive Director 
of the Legislative Council within one week after the biennium commences, the Legislator 
is entitled to $9,270 in each year of the biennium.  Beginning the first Wednesday of 
December 2020 and thereafter, each member of the Senate and House of Representatives 
is entitled to $16,000 for each year of the biennium.  Each member of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives must receive a an annual cost-of-living adjustment in annual 
legislative salary, except that the percentage increase may not exceed 5% in any year, and 
except that the percentage increase may not exceed 3% beginning with the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 2014 in any year.  Beginning December 1, 2001 2022, the salary for each 
legislative session must be adjusted each December 1st by the percentage change in the 
Consumer Price Index for the most recently concluded fiscal year; except that no member 
of the Senate or the House of Representatives may receive a cost-of-living adjustment in 
annual legislative salary for the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature, and 
except that no member of the Senate or the House of Representatives may receive a cost-
of-living adjustment in annual legislative salary for the Second Regular Session of the 
125th Legislature and the First Regular Session and the Second Regular Session of the 
126th Legislature, and any percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal 
years ending June 30, 2011,  June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013 may not be applied to the 
base salary.  In addition, each Legislator is entitled to be paid once each week for travel at 
each legislative session once each week at the same rate of 58¢ per mile to and from that 
Legislator's place of abode as state employees receive, the mileage to be determined by 
the most reasonable direct route, except that Legislators may be reimbursed for tolls paid 
for travel on the Maine Turnpike as long as they have a receipt for payment of the tolls, 
such tolls to be reimbursed when Legislators use the Maine Turnpike in traveling to and 
from sessions of the Legislature or in performance of duly authorized committee 
assignments.  Each Legislator is entitled to mileage on the first day of the session, and 
those amounts of salary and expenses at such times as the Legislature may determine 
during the session, and the balance at the end of the session.
Sec. 4.  3 MRSA §2, 4th ¶, as corrected by RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. A, §1, is amended to 
read:
Except as provided in this section, each member of the Senate and House of 
Representatives is entitled to a meal allowance in the amount of $32 and a housing 
allowance in the amount of $38 $50 for each day in attendance at sessions of the 
Legislature and for each day the member occupies overnight accommodations away from 
home either immediately preceding or immediately following attendance at daily sessions 
of the Legislature.  The presiding officers may establish reasonable policies regarding 
allowances for meals and overnight accommodations for the day immediately preceding 
the session, which may include policies regarding whether an allowance is paid, whether 
the full amount or a portion of the statutory allowance is paid and whether receipts are 
required.  In lieu of the meal and housing allowance, each member is entitled to a daily 
meal allowance in the amount of $32 and actual daily mileage allowances in an amount 
up to but not exceeding $38 $50 per day.  Each member of the Senate also receives an 
annual allowance for constituent services in the amount of $2,000, $1,300 in January and 
$700 in the month following adjournment of the regular session.  Each member of the 
House of Representatives also receives an annual allowance for constituent services in the 
amount of $1,500, $1,005 in January and $495 in the month following adjournment of the 
regular session.  Notwithstanding this section, during the first regular session of each 
legislative biennium, a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives may elect 
to receive the first payment of the annual allowance for constituent services in December 
following convening of the Legislature by notifying the Executive Director of the 
Legislative Council in the manner prescribed by the executive director.  The Executive 
Director of the Legislative Council shall inform Legislators of the choice available for 
payment of the allowance for constituent services in the first year of the legislative 
biennium and of any tax implications associated with exercising that choice.
Sec. 5.  3 MRSA §2, 6th ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 1975, c. 750, §1, is 
amended to read:
The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 
receive are entitled to an additional 50% above regular compensation, the majority and 
minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives shall receive are entitled to 
an additional 25% above regular compensation and the assistant majority and minority 
leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives shall receive are entitled to an 
additional 12 1/2% above regular compensation.  Beginning the first Wednesday of 
December 2020, the Legislative Council may approve additional compensation for 
committee chairs.
Sec. 6.  3 MRSA §2, 11th ¶, as amended by PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. O, §5; c. 600, Pt. 
B, §§9 and 10; and c. 878, Pt. D, §§14 and 15, is further amended to read:
The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the floor 
leaders and their assistants and members of a committee, with the approval of the 
President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives as to members of a 
committee, may also meet on days when the Legislature is not in daily session at any 
convenient location within the State. Each member of the Senate and House of 
Representatives shall receive is entitled to $55 for every day's attendance when meetings 
or daily sessions are held, a meal allowance in the amount of $32 and a housing 
allowance whereby actual lodging expenses will be reimbursed at the single-room rate, 
provided that as long as a receipt is submitted to the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council for each day in attendance at such meetings or daily sessions and for each day 
that member occupies overnight accommodations away from home either immediately 
preceding or immediately following attendance at daily sessions of the Legislature, and 
actual daily mileage allowances which shall be paid at the same rate paid to state 
employees at the rate of 58¢ per mile to and from that Legislator's place of abode, the 
mileage to be determined by the most reasonable direct route. In lieu of the meal and 
housing allowance, each member shall be is entitled to a daily meal allowance in the 
amount of $32 and actual daily mileage allowances.
Sec. 7.  3 MRSA §2, 13th ¶, as amended by PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. O, §6; c. 600, Pt. 
B, §§9 and 10; and c. 878, Pt. D, §§14 and 15, is further amended to read:
If a member of the Legislature dies or otherwise vacates the office, the successor is 
entitled to a salary from the date of seating, for that calendar year that is computed as 
follows: two hundred ten dollars per week times the number of weeks remaining in the 
calendar year if the vacancy occurs in the first year and $150 per week for the number of 
weeks remaining in the calendar year if the vacancy occurs in the 2nd year the annual 
salary for that office divided by 52, the result of which is multiplied by the number of 
weeks between the date of the successor's seating and the end of that calendar year.
Sec. 8.  3 MRSA §2-B, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 506, §1, is 
amended to read:
C.  One member who serves as chair of the commission appointed by a majority of 
the members appointed under paragraphs A and B, who serves as chair of the 
commission by the President of the Senate in January of 2021 and every 4 years 
thereafter and by the Speaker of the House in January 2023 and every 4 years 
thereafter.
Sec. 9.  3 MRSA §2-B, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2019, c. 384, §1, is further 
amended by amending subparagraph (1-C) to read:
 (1-C)  For compensation of Legislators, and representatives of Indian tribes, 
Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Senate and Clerk and Assistant Clerk of 
the House of Representatives, including all payments for salaries, meals, housing, 
travel, mileage, constituent services and all other expenses and allowances, and 
for additional services by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and members of legislative leadership;
Sec. 10.  3 MRSA §2-B, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1999, c. 2, §1, is further 
amended to read:
3.  Appointments; meetings.  The Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
must be notified by the presiding officers once the appointment of the initial 4 5 members 
has been made.  Within 15 days of the appointment of the initial 4 members after final 
adjournment of a legislative session in odd-numbered years, the Chair of the Legislative 
Council shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.
Sec. 11.  4 MRSA §4, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §1, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Chief justice Justice; salary.  The Until January 1, 2021, the Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Judicial Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 and 
thereafter, of $111,000, to be paid biweekly.  Beginning January 1, 2021 and thereafter, 
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court is entitled to receive an annual salary of 
$184,000, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 12.  4 MRSA §4, sub-§2, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, 
Pt. M, §2, is amended to read:
A.  For fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter Until January 1, 2021, $96,000, to be paid 
biweekly.  Beginning January 1, 2021 and thereafter, an annual salary of $169,000, to 
be paid biweekly.
Sec. 13.  4 MRSA §4, sub-§2-B is enacted to read:
2-B.  Longevity pay.  The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may establish 
longevity pay eligibility criteria and rates for the Associate Justices of the Supreme 
Judicial Court.  The Chief Justice is entitled to receive longevity pay pursuant to the same 
eligibility criteria and at the same rates as associate justices.
Sec. 14.  4 MRSA §6-B, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. XXXX, §1, is further 
amended to read:
§6-B.  Per diem compensation for Active Retired Justices of the Supreme Judicial 
Court
Any Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court who performs judicial 
service at the direction and assignment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court 
must be compensated for those services at the rate of $350 $500 per day or $200 per 1/2 
day, as long as the total compensation received under this section by an Active Retired 
Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in any calendar year does not exceed 75% of the 
annual salary of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court set pursuant to 
section 4. An Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court who receives 
compensation under this section does not accrue additional creditable service for benefit 
calculation purposes and is not entitled to any other employee benefit, including health, 
dental or life insurance.
Sec. 15.  4 MRSA §102, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §4, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Chief justice Justice; salary.  The Until January 1, 2021, the Chief Justice of the 
Superior Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter, of 
$94,000, to be paid biweekly.  Beginning January 1, 2021 and thereafter, the Chief 
Justice of the Superior Court is entitled to receive an annual salary of $160,000, to be 
paid biweekly.
Sec. 16.  4 MRSA §102, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §5, is 
further amended to read:
2.  Associate justice Justice; salary.  Each Justice of the Superior Court shall 
receive a is entitled to receive an annual salary as follows:
A.  For fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter Until January 1, 2021, $90,000, to be paid 
biweekly.  Beginning January 1, 2021 and thereafter, $150,000, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 17.  4 MRSA §102, sub-§2-B is enacted to read:
2-B.  Longevity pay.  The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may establish 
longevity pay eligibility criteria and rates for the Chief Justice and Justices of the 
Superior Court.
Sec. 18.  4 MRSA §157, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §7, is 
further amended to read:
2.  Chief Judge; salary.  The Until January 1, 2021, the Chief Judge of the District 
Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter, of $94,000, to 
be paid biweekly.  Beginning January 1, 2021 and thereafter, the Chief Judge of the 
District Court is entitled to receive an annual salary of $160,000, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 19.  4 MRSA §157, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §8, is 
further amended to read:
3.  Deputy Chief Judge; salary.  The Until January 1, 2021, the Deputy Chief Judge 
of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter, 
of $92,000, to be paid biweekly.  Beginning January 1, 2021 and thereafter, the Deputy 
Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive an annual salary of $155,000, to be 
paid biweekly.
Sec. 20.  4 MRSA §157, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §9, is 
further amended to read:
4.  Associate judge; salary.  Each Associate Judge of the District Court shall receive 
a is entitled to receive an annual salary as follows:
A.  For fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter Until January 1, 2021, $90,000, to be paid 
biweekly.  Beginning January 1, 2021 and thereafter, $150,000, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 21.  4 MRSA §157, sub-§4-B is enacted to read:
4-B.  Longevity pay.  The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may establish 
longevity pay eligibility criteria and rates for the Chief Judge, Deputy Chief Judge and 
Associate Judges of the District Court.
SUMMARY
This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local 
Government pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, subsection 2.  The 
committee has not taken a position on the substance of this bill.  By reporting out this bill, 
the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or disagrees 
with any aspect of this bill.  The committee is reporting out the bill for the sole purpose of 
having a bill printed that can be referred to the committee for an appropriate public 
hearing and subsequent processing in the normal course.  The committee is taking this 
action to ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of the proposals 
contained in the bill.
This bill includes all the recommendations of the State Compensation Commission's 
January 2020 final report including increases in the:
1.  Salary of the Governor from $70,000 per year to $135,000 per year to take effect 
after the election of a Governor not in office on December 2, 2020;
2.  The expense account of the Governor from $30,000 per year to $40,000 per year;
3.  Salary of Maine Legislators, beginning with the 130th Maine Legislature, from 
$14,862 in the first year and $10,582 in the 2nd year of a biennium, after adjustment for 
inflation, to $16,000 in each year of the biennium;
4.  Mileage allowance for Maine Legislators from 44¢ per mile to 58¢ per mile;
5.  Lodging rate for Maine Legislators from $38 per day to $50 per day;
6.  Salary of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court from $116,000 per year 
to $184,000 per year;
7.  Salary of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court from $96,000 to 
$169,000 per year;
8.  Per diem compensation for Active Retired Justices from $350 per day to $500 per 
day;
9.  Salary of the Chief Justice of the Superior Court from $94,000 per year to 
$160,000 per year;
10.  Salary of the Justices of the Superior Court from $90,000 per year to $150,000 
per year;
11.  Salary of the Chief Judge of the District Court from $94,000 per year to 
$160,000 per year;
12.  Salary of the Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court from $92,000 per year to 
$155,000 per year; and
13.  Salary of the Associate Judges of the District Court from $90,000 per year to 
$150,000 per year.
The bill gives the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court the authority to 
develop criteria and rates for longevity pay for all justices and judges.  It moves the initial 
meeting of the State Compensation Commission from within 15 days after appointment 
of the members to within 15 days after adjournment of a legislative session.  It requires 
the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to appoint the 5th member of the 
commission in alternating odd-numbered years.  It removes the following positions from 
the commission's review: Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Senate and Clerk and 
Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives.