Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §903-B is enacted to read:

§903-B.__Circulators deemed to be employees

For the purposes of this chapter, circulators of petitions who receive a wage, salary, commission or anything of value for circulating petitions for direct initiative or people's veto legislation pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Sections 19, 20 and 21 are employees, and the person, firm or organization responsible for the collection of signatures is the employer for all labor and tax law purposes, including, but not limited to, Title 26, chapters 1, 3, 4, 7 and 13; Title 36, Part 8; and Title 39-A.

Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §591, as amended by PL 1985, c. 112, §1, is further amended to read:

§591. Examination; definitions

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings:.

1. Employee. "Employee" means every person who may be permitted, required or directed by any employer in consideration of direct or indirect gain or profit, to engage in any employment;.__"Employee' includes any circulator of a petition for direct initiative or people's veto legislation who is paid a wage, salary or anything of value to circulate petitions pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Sections 19, 20 and 21.

2. Employer. "Employer" means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, legal representative, trustee, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy and any common carrier by rail, motor, water, air or express company doing business in or operating within the State. "Employer" includes any person, firm or organization responsible for the collection of signatures on petitions for direct initiative or people's veto legislation that pays anything of value to persons to collect these signatures pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Sections 19, 20 and 21.

Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §1043, sub-§9, ķA-2 is enacted to read:

A-2.__After December 31, 1999, any person, firm or organization responsible for the collection of signatures on petitions for direct initiative or people's veto legislation that pays anything of value to persons to collect these