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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act Relating to Certain Benefits for Legislators’
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the following:
‘Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §2, sub-§1  is enacted to read:
 
1.  Disability benefits.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in order to ensure that a disability annuity or payment to which a member of the Legislature is entitled is not reduced or lost, the member may file a written notice with the Executive Director of the Legislative Council within one week after the biennium commences or within 30 days of becoming eligible to receive a disability annuity or payment stating that the member waives all or a portion of amounts to which the member would otherwise be entitled under this section. Upon filing such a waiver, the member is entitled to receive only such amounts as the member has not waived. A waiver under this subsection does not affect the coverage of or state contributions to any benefits to which the member is entitled as a Legislator, unless the waiver expressly includes a waiver of such benefits. A waiver under this subsection applies to the term or remainder of the term of office to which the member is elected.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment, which replaces the bill, is intended to ensure that a person is not required for financial reasons to choose between serving in the Legislature and receiving in full a disability annuity or payment to which the person is entitled. Under this amendment, a Legislator may file a written notice waiving compensation and expenses to which that Legislator is entitled in order to eliminate the consideration, application or use of those funds to reduce a federal or state disability annuity or payment.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)