125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 309		LR 492(01)
	An Act To Make Voluntary Membership in a Public Employee Labor Organization in the State
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Winsor of Norway
	Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Eliminating the provision in law that a bargaining agent that has been certified by the executive director of the Maine Labor Relations Board as representing a bargaining unit through a majority vote of employees in that unit shall be recognized by the public employer as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all of the employees in the bargaining unit may result in increased bargaining costs to state, county, municipal, public schools and public higher education employers due to the potential increase in the number of bargaining agents that an employer may have to negotiate with.  The cost can not be determined at this time.
	The Department of Administrative and Financial Services will incur additional costs to develop and maintain different payroll and compensation systems to accomodate state employees who opt to not be represented by unions.  The amount cannot be determined at this time.
	This legislation may result in General Fund savings to the Maine Labor Relations Board from reduced election costs.  The amount can not be determined at this time.  However, information provided by the Maine Labor Relations Board indicates that from May 2009 through May 2011, the board conducted 38 elections involving 1,815 voters at a cost of $1,960 over the two year period, or $1.08 per voter.