An Act to Repeal the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0539
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: RUDNICKI
Amends: 3 MRSA §959, 5 MRSA §12004-I, 26 MRSA §42, 26 MRSA §42-B

Legislative Document
No. 539
H.P. 358
House of Representatives, February 11, 2025
An Act to Repeal 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 RUDNICKI of Fairfield.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CHAPMAN of Auburn, DUCHARME of Madison, EDER of 
Waterboro, LANCE of Paris, QUINT of Hodgdon, SOBOLESKI of Phillips, STROUT of 
Harrington, Senator: BERNARD of Aroostook.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, contributions to the paid family and medical leave benefits program 
established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 6-C began on 
January 1, 2025; and
Whereas, to stop economic harm to employers and employees, contributions must 
stop and be refunded to employers and employees 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.  3 MRSA §959, sub-§1, ¶I, as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §1, 
is further amended to read:
I.  The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor 
matters shall use the following list as a guideline for scheduling reviews:
(2)  Department of Labor in 2023;
(3)  Maine Labor Relations Board in 2025; and
(4)  Workers' Compensation Board in 2025; and.
(5)  The paid family and medical leave benefits program established in Title 26, 
chapter 7, subchapter 6‑C in 2029.
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§54-F, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, 
§2, is repealed.
Sec. 3.  26 MRSA §42, as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §3, is further 
amended to read:
§42.  Powers and duties
The bureau shall collect, assort and arrange statistical details relating to all departments 
of labor and industrial pursuits in the State; to trade unions and other labor organizations 
and their effect upon labor and capital; to the number and character of industrial accidents 
and their effect upon the injured, their dependent relatives and upon the general public; to 
other matters relating to the commercial, industrial, social, educational, moral and sanitary 
conditions prevailing within the State, including the names of firms, companies or 
corporations, where located, the kind of goods produced or manufactured, the time operated 
each year, the number of employees classified according to age and sex and the daily and 
average wages paid each employee; and the exploitation of such other subjects as will tend 
to promote the permanent prosperity of the industries of the State. The director is authorized 
and empowered, subject to the approval of the Governor, to accept from any other agency 
of government, individual, group or corporation such funds as may be available in carrying 
out this section, and meet such requirements with respect to the administration of such 
funds, not inconsistent with this section, as are required as conditions precedent to receiving 
such funds. An accounting of such funds and a report of the use to which they were put 
must be included in the biennial report to the Governor. Each agency of government shall 
cooperate fully with the bureau's efforts to compile labor and industrial statistics. The 
director shall cause to be enforced all laws regulating the employment of minors; all laws 
established for the protection of health, lives and limbs of operators in workshops and 
factories, on railroads and in other places; all laws regulating the payment of wages; and 
all laws enacted for the protection of the working classes.  During an investigation to 
enforce those laws, the director may request records and other information relating to an 
employer's compliance with unemployment compensation and workers' compensation 
laws, including information needed to determine whether the employer has properly 
classified a worker as an independent contractor, and shall report suspected violations of 
those laws to the state or federal agency responsible for enforcing them.  The director may 
adopt, in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, rules regarding all such 
laws, except where this authority is granted to a board or commission.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2‑A.  The director shall, on or before the first day of July, biennially, report to 
the Governor, and may make such suggestions and recommendations as the director may 
deem necessary for the information of the Legislature. The director may from time to time 
cause to be printed and distributed bulletins upon any subject that is of public interest and 
benefit to the State, including, but not limited to, the paid family and medical leave benefits 
program established in chapter 7, subchapter 6‑C, and may conduct a program of research, 
education and promotion to reduce industrial accidents.  The director may review various 
data, such as workers' compensation records, as well as other information relating to any 
public or private employer's safety experience.  When any individual public or private 
employer's safety experience causes the director to question seriously the safe working 
environment of that employer, the director may offer any safety education and consultation 
programs to that employer that may be beneficial in providing a safer work environment.  
If the employer refuses this assistance or is in serious noncompliance which that may lead 
to injuries, or if serious threats to worker safety continue, then the director shall 
communicate concerns to appropriate agencies, such as the United States Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration.  As used in this section, the term "noncompliance" 
means a lack of compliance with any applicable health and safety regulations of the United 
States Occupational Safety and Health Administration or other federal agencies.  The 
bureau is responsible for the enforcement of indoor air quality and ventilation standards 
with respect to state-owned buildings and buildings leased by the State.  The bureau shall 
enforce air quality standards in a manner to ensure that corrections to problems found in 
buildings be made over a reasonable period of time, using consent agreements and other 
approaches as necessary and reasonable.
The director may enter into reciprocal agreements with other states that maximize 
compliance with employment standards enforced by the director.
Sec. 4.  26 MRSA §42-B, sub-§1, ¶F, as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, 
§4, is further amended to read:
F.  Minimum wage and overtime provisions as described in section 664; and
Sec. 5.  26 MRSA §42-B, sub-§1, ¶G, as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, 
§5, is further amended to read:
G.  Earned paid leave; and.
Sec. 6.  26 MRSA §42-B, sub-§1, ¶H, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §6, 
is repealed.
Sec. 7.  26 MRSA c. 7, sub-c. 6-C, as amended, is repealed.
Sec. 8.  PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §8 is repealed.
Sec. 9.  PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §9 is repealed.
Sec. 10.  PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §10 is repealed. 
Sec. 11.  PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §11 is repealed. 
Sec. 12.  Department of Labor to refund contributions made by employers 
and self-employed individuals under former provision of law.  The Department 
of Labor shall refund to employers and self-employed individuals contributions made to 
the Department of Labor pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 850-F, 
as repealed by this Act. An employer that deducted a portion of the premium required for 
an employee from that employee's wages shall remit that portion of the premium to the 
employee as part of the employee's wages.
Sec. 13.  Transfer from Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund to 
General Fund.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before June 
30, 2025, the State Controller shall transfer all unappropriated funds from the Department 
of Labor, Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds 
account to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.
Sec. 14.  Retroactivity. That section of this Act that repeals the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 6-C applies retroactively to October 25, 2023.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the provisions of law related to the paid family and medical leave 
benefits program. The bill requires the Department of Labor to refund contributions made 
by employers and self-employed individuals to the Department of Labor under the paid 
family and medical leave benefits program. The bill requires an employer that deducted a 
portion of the premium required for an employee from that employee's wages to remit that 
portion of the premium to the employee as part of the employee's wages. The bill requires 
the State Controller to transfer unappropriated funds from the Department of Labor, Paid 
Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account to the 
unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.