An Act to Delay Payment of Benefits Under the Paid Family and
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1249
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: FAULKINGHAM, BRADSTREET
Amends: 26 MRSA §850-B, 26 MRSA §850-E, 26 MRSA §850-P

Legislative Document
No. 1249
H.P. 824
House of Representatives, March 25, 2025
An Act to Delay Payment of Benefits Under the Paid Family and 
Medical Leave Benefits Program
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor.
Cosponsored by Senator BRADSTREET of Kennebec and
Representatives: BISHOP of Bucksport, CHAPMAN of Auburn, HAGGAN of Hampden, 
HYMES of Waldo, LAVIGNE of Berwick, LEMELIN of Chelsea, POMERLEAU of Standish, 
WHITE of Ellsworth.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation delays implementation of the paid family and medical leave 
benefits program; and
Whereas, employers and employees must be notified of the delay in the program as 
soon as possible; 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.  26 MRSA §850-B, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7, is 
amended to read:
The paid family and medical leave benefits program is established effective January 1, 
2026 July 1, 2027.  The program is administered by the department.  In accordance with 
subsection 1, the department may, through contract after a competitive bidding process 
subject to the requirements of Title 5, section 1816‑B, authorize a 3rd party to conduct 
claims administration.
Sec. 2.  26 MRSA §850-E, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7, is 
amended to read:
6.  Report.  Beginning October 1, 2026 April 1, 2028 and annually thereafter, the 
administrator shall publish a report providing the following information concerning the 
program for the previous fiscal year:
A.  The total claims made, the total eligible claims and the percentage of total eligible 
claims out of total claims made;
B.  The percentage of eligible claims attributable to medical leave;
C.  The percentage of eligible claims attributable to family leave for the serious health 
condition of a family member;
D.  The percentage of eligible claims attributable to family leave other than for the 
birth, adoption or fostering of a child;
E.  The percentage of eligible claims attributable to family leave for the birth, adoption 
or fostering of a child;
F.  The percentage of eligible claims attributable to family leave for a qualifying 
exigency;
G.  The percentage of eligible claims attributable to family leave for a covered service 
member;
H.  The claimant demographics by age, gender identification, race, ethnicity, average 
weekly wage, occupation and the type of leave taken;
I.  The percentage of claims denied and the reasons for the denials;
J.  The average weekly benefit amount paid for all claims and by the type of leave 
taken;
K.  The category of family member for whom family medical leave was taken to care 
for the family member’s serious medical condition;
L.  The time for initial claims processing and determination;
M.  The average length of time between an application and receipt of benefits;
N.  The average leave duration for each purpose of leave; and
O.  Any changes in gross benefits paid compared to the previous fiscal year.
The administrator shall submit the annual report required by this subsection to the 
department, the authority and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over labor matters.
Sec. 3.  26 MRSA §850-P, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §7, is amended 
to read:
§850-P.  Implementation
Contributions must begin January 1, 2025 to provide funds for the fund. The 
administrator shall begin processing claims on May 1, 2026 November 1, 2027, except that, 
by February 1, 2026 August 1, 2027, the authority shall conduct an actuarial study to ensure 
the solvency of the fund in order to begin processing claims on May November 1st. If 
additional contributions are required based on the results of the actuarial study, the 
authority, through a majority vote, may require a one-time suspension of claims payments 
of no longer than 3 months.
The administrator shall establish reasonable procedures and forms for filing claims for 
benefits under this subchapter and shall specify what supporting documentation is 
necessary to support a claim for benefits, including documentation required from a health 
care provider for proof of a serious health condition.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill delays the implementation of the paid family and medical leave benefits 
program until July 1, 2027 and the requirement that the administrator of the program begin 
processing claims for benefits under the program until November 1, 2027. The bill also 
makes corresponding changes to other related implementation dates.