Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

APPROVED               CHAPTER
                                                                JULY 22, 2021               122
                                                              BY GOVERNOR              RESOLVES
                                STATE OF MAINE
                                         _____
                         IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                       TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
                                         _____
                                 S.P. 501 - L.D. 1559
 Resolve, To Create the Commission To Develop a Paid Family and Medical
                         Leave Benefits Program
    Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission To Develop a
Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program, referred to in this resolve as "the
commission," is established.
    Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
353, the commission consists of 12 voting members as follows:
   1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including a
member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
     2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
House, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats
in the Legislature;
    3. Two members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
    A. One member with expertise in issues affecting labor and independent contractors;
    and
    B. One employer with more than 50 employees;
    4. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
    A. One member with expertise in issues related to family and medical leave benefits;
    B. One employer with 50 or fewer employees; and
    C. One member who is an employer in the hospitality industry;
    5. Two members appointed by the Governor as follows:
    A. One member with expertise in issues affecting maternity and postpartum care; and
    B. One member with expertise in issues affecting elder care; and
    6. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee.
   Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the
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commission. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the chairs may appoint, as nonvoting
members, individuals with expertise in paid family and medical leave, social insurance
programs or related state infrastructure.
    Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission.                  Resolved: That all
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
the commission to meet and conduct its business.
    Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall:
    1. Study the paid family and medical leave benefits programs in other states, including
those that have established paid family and medical leave benefits programs. In its review
of paid family and medical leave benefits programs in other states, the commission shall
consider without limitation the following factors for each program:
    A. Equity of the program;
    B. Program funding;
    C. State partnerships and consortiums, including information technology needs;
    D. Education and outreach needs;
    E. Oversight and structure of the program; and
    F. Relationship between state government and the employers and employees
    participating in the program;
    2. Solicit and consider public comment on the administration and establishment of a
paid family and medical leave benefits program, including but not limited to purposes for
leave, eligibility, job protection and duration;
    3. Develop a plan to implement a paid family and medical leave benefits program by
consulting with other states that have established paid family and medical leave benefits
programs;
     4. Contract for and complete an actuarial study of the planned program under
subsection 3, including start-up costs and ongoing costs of the program, the economic
impact on and benefits to the State and the contributions needed to maintain the solvency
of the program; and
   5. Based on the actuarial study in subsection 4 and other factors considered by the
commission, make recommendations to implement a paid family and medical leave
benefits program, including any necessary legislation.
     Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the
Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services or may contract for necessary
staffing services for the commission, except that Legislative Council staff support is not
authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session. Upon request, the
Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, the Department of Labor, the
Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Administrative and
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Financial Services, Office of Information Technology and Bureau of Revenue Services
shall provide additional staffing assistance to the commission.
    Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, no later than
February 1, 2022, the commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and
recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular
Session of the 130th Legislature.
    Sec. 8. Additional funding sources. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
353, the commission may apply for and receive funds, grants or contributions from public
and private sources to support its activities.
   Sec. 9. Transfer from Department of Administrative and Financial
Services Other Special Revenue Funds balances to Legislature, Study
Commissions - Funding. Resolved: That, notwithstanding any provision of law to
the contrary, at the close of fiscal year 2021-22, the State Controller shall transfer $200,000
from the available balance in the Adult Use Marijuana Regulatory Coordination Fund
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Administrative and
Financial Services to the Legislature, Study Commissions - Funding Other Special
Revenue Funds account.
    Sec. 10.     Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made.
LEGISLATURE
Study Commissions - Funding 0444
Initiative: Allocates funds on a one-time basis to the Legislature for the costs of contracting
with an outside entity to conduct and complete an actuarial study as required for the
Commission To Develop a Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS                                         2021-22         2022-23
 All Other                                                         $200,000              $0
                                                                __________       __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL                                  $200,000              $0
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