An Act to Fund Collective Bargaining Agreements with Executive
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1987
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: GATTINE

Legislative Document
No. 1987
H.P. 1335
House of Representatives, June 11, 2025
An Act to Fund Collective Bargaining Agreements with Executive 
Branch Employees and Continue the Voluntary Employee Incentive 
Program
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GATTINE of Westbrook.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, certain obligations and expenses incident to the agreement for resolution 
signed August 29, 2024 have been incurred; and
Whereas, certain obligations and expenses incident to the operation of state employee 
collective bargaining agreements will become due and payable immediately; and
Whereas, it is the responsibility of the Legislature to act upon those portions of 
collective bargaining agreements negotiated by the executive branch that require legislative 
action; and
Whereas, the Governor and the Legislature share a desire to address in a timely 
manner the needs of certain state employees excluded from collective bargaining units; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Adjustment of salary schedules for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27.  
The salary schedules for the executive branch employees in bargaining units represented 
by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Maine State 
Troopers Association, the Maine State Law Enforcement Association, the Maine Service 
Employees Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and any other certified bargaining 
representative for an executive branch bargaining unit must be adjusted consistent with the 
terms of any collective bargaining agreements ratified by October 31, 2023.
Sec. 2.  Adjustment of salary schedules for fiscal year 2026-27.  The salary 
schedules for the executive branch employees in bargaining units represented by the 
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Maine State Troopers 
Association, the Maine State Law Enforcement Association, the Maine Service Employees 
Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and any other certified bargaining representative 
for an executive branch bargaining unit must be adjusted consistent with the terms of any 
agreements made between May 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026, including any collective 
bargaining agreement achieved through the process outlined in the agreement for resolution 
between the State of Maine and the Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 
1989 effective August 29, 2024, regarding the study of the classification system for the 
executive branch of the State of Maine.  This section does not apply to any successor 
collective bargaining agreement with a term beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Sec. 3.  Costs associated with the $2,000 lump-sum payment made in 
October 2024 per the agreement for resolution between the State of Maine and 
the Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989 effective August 
29, 2024.
1. An amount not to exceed $9,132,794 in the Salary Plan program, General Fund 
account in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services may be transferred, by 
financial order upon the recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the 
Governor, to fund the $2,000 lump-sum payment made in October 2024 from non-General 
Fund and non-Highway Fund accounts per the agreement for resolution between the State 
of Maine and the Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989 effective 
August 29, 2024.  Funds must be transferred to the Departments and Agencies - Statewide 
program, General Fund account within the Department of Administrative and Financial 
Services.
2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State Controller may 
authorize the transfer, in an amount not to exceed $9,132,794, of Personal Services 
expenditures associated with the $2,000 lump-sum payment made in October 2024 per the 
agreement for resolution between the State of Maine and the Maine Service Employees 
Association, SEIU Local 1989 effective August 29, 2024 from any non-General Fund and 
non-Highway Fund account to the Departments and Agencies - Statewide program, 
General Fund account within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
3. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State Controller on or 
before July 31, 2025 shall transfer the unobligated balance from the Departments and 
Agencies - Statewide program, General Fund account to the Salary Plan program, General 
Fund account within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
Sec. 4.  New, temporary and seasonal employees; similar and equitable 
treatment.  The Governor is authorized to grant similar and equitable treatment consistent 
with this Act for employees in classifications included in bargaining units subject to 
collective bargaining agreements described in section 7 of this Act who are excluded from 
collective bargaining pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 979-A, 
subsection 6, paragraph F.
Sec. 5.  Confidential employees; similar and equitable treatment.  The 
Governor is authorized to grant similar and equitable treatment consistent with this Act for 
confidential employees.  For the purposes of this section, "confidential employees" means 
those employees within the executive branch, including probationary employees, who are 
in positions excluded from collective bargaining units pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 26, section 979-A, subsection 6, paragraphs B, C, D, I and J.
Sec. 6.  Employee salaries subject to Governor's adjustment or approval.  
The Governor is authorized to grant similar and equitable treatment consistent with this 
Act for those unclassified employees whose salaries are subject to the Governor's 
adjustment or approval.
Sec. 7.  Costs to General Fund and Highway Fund.  Costs to the General Fund 
and Highway Fund must be provided wholly or in part through a transfer of Personal 
Services appropriations within and between departments and agencies from the Salary Plan 
program, General Fund account in the Department of Administrative and Financial 
Services in an amount up to the full amount the Salary Plan program, General Fund account 
has accrued as of the date an agreement is reached with the respective bargaining agents to 
implement the economic terms of the most recent collective bargaining agreements, as 
specified in sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Act, entered into by the State and the American 
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Maine State Troopers 
Association, the Maine State Law Enforcement Association, the Maine Service Employees 
Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and any other certified bargaining representative 
for an executive branch bargaining unit to provide equitable treatment of employees 
excluded from collective bargaining pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, 
section 979-A, subsection 6, paragraph F and, notwithstanding Title 26, section 979-D, 
subsection 1, paragraph E, subparagraph (3), to implement equitable adjustments for 
confidential employees.
Sec. 8.  Transfer of Personal Services appropriations between programs 
and departments; General Fund.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
5, section 1585 or any other provision of law to the contrary, available balances in the 
General Fund for Personal Services in fiscal year 2025-26 and fiscal year 2026-27 may be 
transferred by financial order between programs and departments within the General Fund 
upon recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor to be used 
for costs associated with collective bargaining agreements for state employees, as specified 
in sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Act.
Sec. 9.  Transfer from Salary Plan program and special account funding.  
The Salary Plan program, General Fund account in the Department of Administrative and 
Financial Services may be made available as needed in allotment by financial order upon 
the recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor to be used 
for the implementation of the collective bargaining agreements for state employees, as 
specified in sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Act, and for other economic items contained in this 
Act in fiscal year 2025-26 and fiscal year 2026-27.  Except as outlined in section 3 of this 
Act, positions supported from sources of funding other than the General Fund and the 
Highway Fund must be funded from those other sources.
Sec. 10.  Transfer of Personal Services allocations between programs and 
departments; Highway Fund.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
section 1585 or any other provision of law to the contrary, available balances in the 
Highway Fund for Personal Services in fiscal year 2025-26 and fiscal year 2026-27 may 
be transferred by financial order between programs and departments within the Highway 
Fund upon recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor to 
be used for costs associated with collective bargaining agreements for state employees, as 
specified in sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Act.
Sec. 11.  Authorization for reimbursement of costs associated with study of 
classification system for executive branch.  The Department of Administrative and 
Financial Services may be reimbursed up to $1,000,000 from the Salary Plan program, 
General Fund account in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services for 
resources necessary to conduct a study of the classification system for the executive branch 
of State Government, to be prepared and submitted by a consultant by December 31, 2025, 
as outlined in the agreement for resolution between the State of Maine and the Maine 
Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989 effective August 29, 2024.
Sec. 12.  Authorization for reimbursement of costs associated with contract 
resolution.  The Department of Administrative and Financial Services may be reimbursed 
from the Salary Plan program, General Fund account in the Department of Administrative 
and Financial Services for the costs of contract resolution, administration and 
implementation and other costs required by the process of collective bargaining and 
negotiation procedures.
Sec. 13.  Voluntary employee incentive programs.  
1. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 903, subsections 1 and 
2, the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services shall offer for use special 
voluntary employee incentive programs for state employees, including a 50% workweek, 
flexible position staffing and time off without pay. Employee participation in a voluntary 
employee incentive program is subject to the approval of the employee's appointing 
authority.
2. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 285, subsection 7 and 
Title 5, section 903, the State shall continue to pay health and dental insurance benefits for 
a state employee who applies and is approved to participate in a voluntary employee 
incentive program under subsection 1 based upon the scheduled workweek in effect prior 
to the employee's participation in the voluntary employee incentive program.
3. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, sections 903 and 18056 and 
any other provision of law to the contrary, the life, accidental death and dismemberment, 
supplemental and dependent insurance amounts for a state employee who applies and is 
approved to participate in a voluntary employee incentive program under subsection 1 are 
based upon the scheduled hours of the employee prior to the employee's participation in 
the voluntary employee incentive program.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill implements the cost items in the collective bargaining agreements reached 
between the State and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, 
the Maine State Troopers Association, the Maine State Law Enforcement Association, the 
Maine Service Employees Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and any other certified 
bargaining representative for an executive branch bargaining unit and provides for 
equitable treatment for confidential employees and certain other employees excluded from 
collective bargaining. 
The bill specifies the costs from the General Fund and Highway Fund to fund salary 
increases and authorizes the transfer by financial order of available General Fund and 
Highway Fund balances as necessary. 
The bill provides for the adjustment of certain salary schedules in fiscal year 2025-26 
and in fiscal year 2026-27 consistent with agreements ratified by October 31, 2023. The 
bill provides for similar and equitable treatment of confidential employees, probationary 
employees and other employees excluded from collective bargaining. 
The bill authorizes the use of amounts in the Department of Administrative and 
Financial Services, Salary Plan program, up to $9,132,794, to fund the $2,000 lump-sum 
payment made in October 2024 from non-General Fund and non-Highway Fund accounts 
per the agreement for resolution between the State of Maine and the Maine Service 
Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989 effective August 29, 2024.  
The bill authorizes the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to be 
reimbursed up to $1,000,000 for resources necessary to conduct a study of the classification 
system for the executive branch of State Government, to be prepared and submitted by a 
consultant by December 31, 2025, as outlined in the agreement for resolution between the 
August 29, 2024.
The bill directs the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to offer for 
use special voluntary employee incentive programs for state employees, including a 50% 
workweek, flexible position staffing and time off without pay.