Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §821, as amended by PL 1987, c. 402, Pt. A, §154, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§821. Person employed in position other than temporary

Any person, except a person covered under Title 20-A, section 13602, employed in a position other than a temporary position must be granted a leave of absence by that person's employer to fulfill the duties of a Legislator, as long as the person gives written notice to the employer of the person's intent to become a candidate for the Legislature within 10 days after taking action under Title 21-A to place the person's name on a primary or general election ballot.__Following the person's term of service as a Legislator, the person, if still qualified to perform the duties of the position from which the person was granted leave, must be restored to the person's previous, or a similar, position with the same status, pay and seniority.__The leave of absence may, within the discretion of the employer, be with or without pay.

SUMMARY

Currently, any full-time employee who becomes a Legislator must be given a leave of absence upon the request of that employee. Except for teachers, the employer may limit the person's leave to 2 years. Teachers are not limited.

This bill removes the time limit on the leave of absence that must be granted by an employer upon request of an employee fulfilling duties as a Legislator.