An Act to Establish a State Minimum Hourly Wage for Agncultural Workers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2273
Committee Amendment CA_B_H923 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" J3 "to H.P. 1462, L.D. 2273, "An Act to Establish 
a State Minimum Hourly Wage for Agncultural Workers" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in sub-c. 2-B by striking out all of §652 (page 1, lines 22 
to 37 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'§652. Minimum hourly wage 
An employer may not employ an employee at a rate less than the rates required by this 
section. 
1. Minimum hourly wage for an employee not paid by piece rate. 
Beginning 
September 1, 2024. the minimum hourly wage for an employee not paid by piece rate is 
$14.15 per hour. On Janua1y 1, 2025 and each January 1st thereafter, the minimum hourly 
wage then in effect must be increased by the increase, if any. in the cost of living. The 
increase in the cost of living must be measured by the percentage increase, if any, as of 
August of the previous year over the level as of August of the year preceding that year in 
the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, CPI-W, for the 
N01theast Region, or its successor index, as published by the United States Depaitment of 
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics or its successor agency, with the amount of the minimum 
hourly wage increase rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 ¢. If the highest federal minimum 
hourly wage is increased in excess of the minimum hourly wage in effect under this section, 
the minimum hourly wage under this section is increased to the same amount, effective on 
the same date as the increase in the federal minimum hourly wage, and must be increased 
in accordance with this section thereafter. 
2. 
Minimum hourly wage for an employee paid by piece rate. 
Beginning 
September 1, 2024, the minimum hourly wage for an employee paid by piece rate is $10 
per hour.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in sub-c. 2-B in §653 in the first indented paragraph in the 
last 3 lines (page 2, lines 12 to 14 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "All information 
received is considered confidential and may not be divulged to any other person or agency, 
except as may be necessa1y for the enforcement of this subchapter.
Page I • 131LR3129(03) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~pS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"£" to H.P. 1462, L.D. 2273 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority repmt of the committee, provides that an 
individual employed to perform agricultural labor that is paid by piece rate may not be paid 
at a minimum hourly rate of less than $10 per hour. It also makes a technical correction. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/02/24 feae 
131st.MAINE LEGISLATURE 
LD 2273 
LR 3129(03) 
An Act to Establish a State Minimum Hourly Wage for Agricultural Workers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'B" { t+-1'2..i' 
Committee: Labor and Housing 
':j 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
rrectional and Judicial Impact Statements 
This bill may increase the number of civil suits filed in the court system. The additional workload associated with the' 
minimal number of new cases does not require additional funding at this time. The collection of additional fines and 
filing fees will increase General Fund or other dedicated revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Labor associated with enforcement of the minimum wage requirement for 
agricultural employees can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR3129(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1