Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §489-E is enacted to read:

§489-E.__Obligations of developers of groundwater resources

1.__Obligations to existing Maine workers.__An employer who operates an existing public water system, has employees in the State and proposes to become a developer of groundwater resources may not discriminate against its current employees when hiring for the newly developed facility.__When positions in the new facility become available, the employer shall offer existing employees in good standing the opportunity to transfer to the same or a similar position at the same or a similar wage.

2.__Applicability.__This section applies to all developers of groundwater resources that commence the distribution and sale of bottled water from a new facility on or after January 1, 2000.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the site location of development laws to place certain restrictions on companies developing a significant groundwater aquifer for the purpose of selling bottled water. It requires that an employer who operates an existing public water system, primarily distributes bottled water, has employees in this State and develops a significant groundwater aquifer may not discriminate against its current employees when hiring for the newly developed facility. The employer shall offer existing employees in good standing the opportunity to transfer to the same or a similar position, at the same or a similar wage, in the new facility.