An Act To Amend the Requirement That the Department of Labor Calculate the Livable Wage

Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §1-A,  as enacted by PL 2007, c. 363, §1, is amended to read:

§ 1-A. Livable wage defined

As used in this Title, unless the context otherwise indicates, "livable wage" means the statewide average livable wage for a 2-parent household with 2 earners and 2 children as reported by the Department of Labor in the most recent annual biennial report required pursuant to section 1405 1406.

Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §1405,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 11, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §1406  is enacted to read:

§ 1406.  Calculation of livable wage

By July 1, 2013 and biennially thereafter, the department shall calculate the livable wage and develop a basic needs budget for households in this State based on, at a minimum, a 2-parent household with 2 earners and 2 children representative family size, but only if funding has been appropriated for these purposes.

By December 1, 2013 and biennially thereafter, the department shall report the livable wages calculated and the basic needs budget for households developed pursuant to this section to the Legislature if funds have been appropriated for these purposes.