CHAPTER 115
H.P. 1556 - L.D. 2058
Resolve, to Continue the Study of the Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families
Sec. 1. Committee established. Resolved: That the Committee to Continue to Study the Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families, referred to in this resolve as the "committee," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2. Committee membership. Resolved: That the committee consists of 15 members:
1. Seven members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
A. One Senator;
B. One representative of employers in the health care industry;
C. One representative of employers in the insurance industry;
D. One representative of municipal employers; and
E. Three members representing labor, women's groups and senior citizens;
2. Six members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows:
A. One member of the House of Representatives;
B. One representative from the low-income advocacy field;
C. One representative of a child care organization;
D. One parent or educator; and
E. Two members of the business community, one representing a large business and one representing a small business;
3. The President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce or the president's designee; and
4. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee; and be it further
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the Senate member is the Senate chair of the committee and the House of Representatives member is the House chair of the committee; and be it further
Sec. 4. Appointments; meetings. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once the appointments have been made. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the chairs of the committee shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee no later than 15 days after completion of the appointments; and be it further
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the committee shall study the benefits and costs of providing family and medical leave benefits. In conducting the study, the committee shall:
1. Review and consider information gathered by the committee during the 2001 interim;
2. Continue to examine the issues set forth in Joint Order 2001, House Paper 1386, section 5, paragraph A;
3. Identify or develop additional sources of Maine-specific data on use of family and medical leave and the availability of paid leave;
4. Obtain information from other states and interest groups that are conducting studies or developing methodologies for estimating costs and benefits on paid family and medical leave;
5. Arrange for the assistance of experts in economic analysis to prepare costs and benefit estimates for the committee if other sources of funds are received for this purpose in accordance with section 9; and
6. Invite testimony from experts on early childhood development, including experts on bonding between children and parents, to assist the committee in considering potential long-term benefits of providing paid leave so that parents will be able to take leave following the birth or adoption of a child; and be it further
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the committee; and be it further
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: That members of the committee who are Legislators are entitled to the legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings of the committee. Other members of the committee not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings of the committee. If other sources of funding become available, those funds may be used to compensate members; and be it further
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That the committee shall submit its report, together with any necessary implementing legislation, to the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature no later than November 6, 2002. The committee is authorized to introduce legislation related to its report to the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature at the time of submission of its report. If the committee requires a limited extension of time to conclude its work, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant the extension; and be it further
Sec. 9. Budget; grants. Resolved: That the chairs of the committee, with assistance from the committee staff, shall administer the committee's budget. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the committee shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the Legislative Council for approval. The committee may not incur expenses that would result in the committee's exceeding its approved budget. Upon request from the committee, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council promptly shall provide the committee chairs and staff with a status report on the committee's budget, expenditures incurred and paid and available funds. The chairs of the committee may seek and accept grants and other sources of funding on behalf of the committee. Prompt notice of solicitation and acceptance of such funds must be sent to the Legislative Council. All funds accepted must be forwarded to the executive director, along with an accounting that includes amount, date received, from whom, purpose and limitation on use of the funds. The executive director administers any funds received; and be it further
Sec. 10. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
LEGISLATURE
Study Commissions - Funding
Initiative: Provides a base allocation from the Federal Expenditures Fund in the amount of $500 in the event grants are awarded and other sources of funds are received to support the Committee to Continue to Study the Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families.
Federal Expenditures Fund 2001-02 2002-03
All Other $0 $500
Study Commissions - Funding
Initiative: Provides a base allocation from Other Special Revenue funds in the amount of $500 in the event grants are awarded and other sources of funds are received to support the Committee to Continue to Study the Benefits and Costs for Increasing Access to Family and Medical Leave for Maine Families.
Other Special Revenue Funds 2001-02 2002-03
All Other $0 $500
LEGISLATURE
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2001-02 2002-03
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES
FUND $0 $500
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE
FUNDS 0 500
____________ ____________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL -
ALL FUNDS $0 $1000
Effective July 25, 2002, unless otherwise indicated.
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