An Act To Increase Accountability for Wage Violations
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0857
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: COLLINGS, BELLOWS, AUSTIN, DUNPHY, FARNSWORTH, FAY, HANDY, RECKITT, LAWRENCE
Amends: 26 MRSA §626-A, 26 MRSA §670

Legislative Document
No. 857
H.P. 631
House of Representatives, February 14, 2019
An Act To Increase Accountability for Wage Violations
Reference to the Committee on Labor and Housing suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative COLLINGS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator BELLOWS of Kennebec and
Representatives: AUSTIN of Skowhegan, DUNPHY of Old Town, FARNSWORTH of 
Portland, FAY of Raymond, HANDY of Lewiston, RECKITT of South Portland, Senators: 
LAWRENCE of York, SANBORN, L. of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §626-A, first ¶, as amended by PL 1999, c. 465, §5, is further 
amended to read:
Whoever violates any of the provisions of sections 621-A to 623 or section 626, 628, 
or 629-B is subject to a forfeiture fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for 
each the first violation and $2,500 for each subsequent violation.  A civil action may be 
brought against an employer under this chapter by a person aggrieved by a violation of 
sections 621-A to 623 or section 626, 628, 629 or 629-B.  If the court finds that the 
employer violated sections 621-A to 623 or section 626, 628, 629 or 629-B, the court  
may award damages, including attorney's fees.
Sec. 2.  26 MRSA §670, as amended by PL 1965, c. 410, §8, is further amended to 
read:
§670.  Employees' remedies
Any An employer shall be is liable to the employee or employees for the amount of 
unpaid minimum wages. Upon a judgment being rendered in favor of any employee or 
employees, in any action brought to recover unpaid wages under this subchapter, such 
judgment shall must include, in addition to the unpaid wages adjudged to be due, an 
additional amount equal to 3 times such wages as liquidated damages, and costs of suit 
including a reasonable attorney's fee.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Regulation and Enforcement 0159
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for 10 Labor and Safety Inspector positions within the 
wage and hour division of the Bureau of Labor Standards beginning October 1, 2019.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the law regarding employment practices by increasing the fine for a 
violation of certain state wage and benefits laws to $500 for the first violation and $2,500 
for each subsequent violation and by providing a private right of action for a person 
aggrieved of such a violation.  It amends the law regarding employees' remedies to 
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
10.000
10.000
Personal Services
$594,682
$761,171
All Other
$65,000
$65,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$659,682
$826,171
provide that in a judgment for an employee an additional amount of 3 times the unpaid 
wages must be awarded the employee.  It also provides ongoing funds for 10 labor and 
safety inspector positions within the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, 
wage and hour division beginning October 1, 2019.