Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §4552, as amended by PL 1993, c. 327, §1, is further amended to read:

§4552. Policy

To protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is declared to be the policy of this State to keep continually in review all practices infringing on the basic human right to a life with dignity, and the causes of these practices, so that corrective measures may, where possible, be promptly recommended and implemented, and to prevent discrimination in employment, housing or access to public accommodations on account of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin; and in employment, discrimination on account of age or because of the previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39-A and in housing because of familial status; and to prevent discrimination in the extension of credit on account of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, ancestry or national origin; and to prevent discrimination in education on account of sex, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §4553, sub-§6-A, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 350, §1, is amended to read:

6-A. Normal retirement age. "Normal retirement age" means the specified age, the years of service requirement or any age and years of service combination at which a member may become eligible for retirement benefits. This subsection shall may not be construed to require the mandatory retirement of a member or to deny employment to any person based solely on his that person's normal retirement age.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §4553, sub-§9-C is enacted to read:

9-C.__Sexual orientation.__"Sexual orientation" means a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality or gender identity or expression.

Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §4553, sub-§10, ķE, as amended by PL 1983, c. 578, §2, is further amended to read:

E. In determining whether any a person is acting as an agent or employee of another person so as to make such other person responsible for his that person's acts, the question of whether the specific acts performed were