LD 1591
pg. 1
LD 1591 Title Page An Act to Raise the Minimum Wage, to Expand the Tax Credit for Health Benefits ... Page 2 of 2
Download Bill Text
LR 556
Item 1

 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

 
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §664, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 305, §1, is
amended to read:

 
1. Minimum wage. The minimum hourly wage is $4.25 $5.15 per
hour. If the highest federal minimum wage is increased in excess
of $4.25 per hour, the minimum wage must be increased to the same
amount, effective on the same date as the increase in the federal
minimum wage, but in no case may the minimum wage exceed $5.15
per hour. Starting January 1, 2002, the minimum hourly wage is
$5.65 per hour.__Starting January 1, 2003, the minimum hourly
wage is $6.15 per hour.

 
Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §5219-O, as amended by PL 1999, c. 414, §48, is
further amended to read:

 
§5219-O. Credit for dependent health benefits paid

 
1. Credit allowed. A taxpayer constituting an employing unit
that employs fewer than 5 low-income 15 employees is allowed a
credit to be computed as provided in this section against the tax
imposed by this Part, subject to the limitations contained in
subsections 3 and 4. The credit equals the lesser of 20% of
dependent health benefits paid under a health benefit plan during
the taxable year for which the credit is allowed or $125 per
employee with dependent health benefits coverage. A taxpayer who
received a credit under this section in the preceding year and
whose number of low-income employees is 5 15 or more may continue
to receive the credit for 2 years after the last year in which
the number of low-income employees was fewer than 5 15.

 
2. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context
otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following
meanings.

 
A. "Dependent" means a dependent, as defined by Section 152
of the Code, who is under 19 years of age.

 
B. "Dependent health Health benefits" means health benefits
and health insurance costs allowable as deductions to the
employer under Section 105 of the Code, paid by the taxpayer
on behalf of the taxpayer's low-income employees for the
benefit of the employees' dependents.

 
C. "Employing unit" has the same meaning as in Title 26,
section 1043.

 
D. "Health benefit plan" means a plan that:


LD 1591 Title Page Top of Page Page 2 of 2