An Act to Enhance the Predictability of Mandated Overtime for Pulp or Paper Manufacturing Facility Employees
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1794
Committee Amendment CA_A_S670 (Senate)

COMMIFTEE AMENDMENT " ft " to S.P. 719, L.D. 1794, "An Act to Enhance the
Predictability of Mandated Overtime for Pulp or Paper Manufacturing Facility Employees"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substitrting the following:
'Resolve, to Establish the Commission on Predictability of Mandated Overtime for
Pulp or Paper Manufacturing Facility Employees'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission on
Predictability of Mandated Overtime for Pulp or Paper Manufacturing Facility Employees,
referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established to examine the current levels
of mandatory overtime at pulp or paper manufacturing facilities in the State with 50 or
more employees and the unpact of the use of mandatory overtime on workplace and public
safety, employee morale and the ability of pulp or paper manufacturing facilities to hire
employees; to seek public and expert input on solutions to any problems identified; and to
make recommendations for solutions, including suggested legislation, to address the
increased use of mandatory overtime and loss of time off that may be undermining
workplace and public safety, morale and the ability to hire employees.
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
353, the commission consists of 15 members as follows:
1. Four members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, includmg 2
members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and 2 members
of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
2. Four members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the
House, including 2 members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the
Legislature and 2 members of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the
Legislature;
3. Two members representing the interests of pulp or paper manufacturing facility
5 employees, appointed by the President of the Senate;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /} " to S.P. 719, L.D. 1794
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4. One member who is experienced in labor relations issues, appointed by the President
2^r^.' of the Senate;
3l 5. Two members representing the interests of pulp or paper manufacturing facility
companies, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
6. One member who is experienced in issues of occupational health, appointed by the
Speaker of the House; and
7. The Director of Labor Standards within the Department of Labor, or the du-ector's
designee.
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the
commission.
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
the commission to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall examine the following:
1. The employment conditions of pulp or paper manufacturing facility employees,
including mandated overtime;
2. The amount of overtime hours worked for years 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the first
half of 2024 at pulp or paper manufacturing facilities in the State with 50 or more
employees;
3. The amount of overtime worked that has been voluntary and the amount that has
been mandated at pulp or paper manufacturing facilities in the State with 50 or more
employees, broken down by department;
4. The amount of overtime worked that involved employees being "inverted," or
mandated to report to work on holidays, vacation days or scheduled days off;
5. A staffing level report on what level of staffing is required to effectively run
operations at pulp or paper manufacturing facilities in the State with 50 or more employees
that analyzes how many employees may be on vacation, holidays, disability leave, medical
leave and approved time off without negatively affecting operations;
6. Current employee policies at pulp or paper manufacturing facilities in the State with
50 or more employees that:
A. Ensure workplace and public safety when employees are working 18 to 24
consecutive hours due to mandatory overtime;
B. Limit the amount of mandatory overtime that employees are required to work;
C. Allow for employees to communicate whether they want to voluntarily work
overtime hours; and
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^ " to S.P. 719, L.D. 1794 C'c? ^ ^
^ D. Govern how and when employees are notified that the employee will be mandated
•^y 2 to work overtime or that the employee will be asked to voluntarily accept overtime
hours; and
7. Recommendations for solutions, mcluding suggested legislation, to address the
increased use of mandatory overtime and loss of time off that may be undermining
workplace and public safety, employee morale and the ability for pulp or paper
manufacturing facilities to hire employees.
The commission may hold up to 2 public hearings to seek input on these issues.
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide
necessary staffmg services to the commission, except that Legislative Council staff support
is not authorized when the Legislature is m regular or special session.
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than November 6, 2024, the commission
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested
legislation, to the joint standmg committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor
matters. The committee may report out a bill related to the report to the 132nd Legislature
in 2025.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. The amendment establishes the
Commission on Predictability of Mandated Overtime for Pulp or Paper Manufacturing
Facility Employees to examine the current levels of mandatory overtime at pulp or paper
manufacturing facilities in the State with 50 or more employees. The duties of the
commission include examining the impact of the use of mandatory overtime on workplace
and public safety, employee morale and the ability of pulp or paper manufacturing facilities
to hire employees. The commission may submit recommendations, including any
suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature havmg jurisdiction
over labor matters. The committee may report out a bill related to the report to the 132nd
Legislature m 2025.
0 FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 04/02/24 ^IVSC.
131st MAINE LEGISLATUTIE
LD 1794 LR 756(02)
An Act to Enhance the Predictability of Mandated Overtime for Pulp or Paper Manufacturing Facility
Employees
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '}!)"f5'(
Committee: Labor and Housing
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
Legislative Cost/Study
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $5,850 ia fiscal year 2024-25. The Legislature's
budget for the 2024-2025 biemuum includes $14,500 in each of fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 for the costs of
legislative studies, as well as $38,909 of balances carried over from prior years for fhis purpose. Whether these
amounts are sufficient to fund aU studies wiU depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council
and the Legislature. The additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be
absorbed utilizmg existing budgeted staff resources.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Bureau of Labor Standards within the Department of Labor associated with serving on the
commission can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR0756(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1