129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 900		LR 689(03)
	An Act To Expand the Rights of Public Employees under the Maine Labor Laws
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Labor and Housing
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium cost increase - All Funds Potential current biennium cost increase - Higher educational institutions Potential current biennium cost increase - Municipalities and counties
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	With the exception of employees whose duties include protecting public safety, this bill allows certain public employees to strike. This may result in increased bargaining and other direct and indirect costs to state and local governments. Further, unless replacement workers are available to continue the operations of the local school administrative units (SAU's ) and the higher educational institutions, classes may be cancelled in the event of a strike.  Depending on the length of the strike, the higher educational institutions may need to suspend operations for a semester and refund tuition, room and board and other fees as well as return federal financial aid. The impact of the bill will depend on the number and duration of strikes over time and cannot be determined at this time.