130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 1154
H.P. 832 House of Representatives, March 22, 2021
An Act To Improve the Safety of Prisoners and Jail Staff by
Limiting Work Hours of Jail Employees
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 18, 2021. Referred to the Committee on
Criminal Justice and Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative COLLINGS of Portland.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3 Whereas, the safety of county jails in the State is reliant on the health and alertness
4 of their employees; and
5 Whereas, accidents, lapses in judgment and ineffective performance can result from
6 jail employees being overworked or without proper rest, sleep and relaxation off duty; and
7 Whereas, currently jail employees may be asked to work beyond their physical
8 capacity to perform their duties effectively, safely and with proper judgment, putting the
9 health and safety of themselves, the prisoners and the facilities in general at risk; and
10 Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
11 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
12 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
13 therefore,
14 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
15 Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §1511 is enacted to read:
16 §1511. Hours of employees
17 A jail employee must receive 8 hours off duty for every 16 hours the employee works
18 on duty.
19 Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
20 takes effect when approved.
21 SUMMARY
22 This bill requires county jail employees to receive 8 hours off duty for every 16 hours
23 worked on duty.
Page 1 - 130LR1900(01)