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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1566H.P. 1024House of Representatives, April 10, 2025
An Act to Provide Compensation to Individuals with Lived
Experience Serving on Advisory Boards, Commissions, Councils
and Similar Groups
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DEBRITO of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DODGE of Belfast, GRAHAM of North Yarmouth,
MCCABE of Lewiston, MITCHELL of Cumberland, MURPHY of Scarborough, SARGENT
of York. Page 1 - 132LR1936(01)
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2 is enacted to read:
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4 experience" means a board member who has first-hand knowledge or direct experience
5 related to the content, subject matter, responsibilities or authority of the board that helps
6 increase equity in the representation of perspectives and backgrounds of members.
7 as amended by PL 1989, c. 503, Pt. B, §26, is
8 further amended to read:
9 Members of boards shall must be paid a legislative per diem, another specified daily
10 rate of compensation, a salary, expenses only or no compensation, as established for each
11 board in sections to . Any board for which a legislative per diem, another
12 specified daily rate of compensation or a salary is specified shall is also be authorized to
13 receive expenses as provided in section
14 expenses only, the member shall must receive expenses as provided in section
15 the rate of compensation specifies "not authorized," the member shall may not receive no
16 compensation or expenses except as authorized or allowed by subsection 3.
17 is enacted to read:
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19 contrary, beginning October 1, 2025, a member representing lived experience who is
20 serving on a board established in section 12004-I and is not otherwise compensated for the
21 member's time serving on the board by the member's employer or the entity the member
22 represents may be compensated in an amount not to exceed the legislative per diem for the
23 member's time and reimbursed for expenses, including but not limited to meals and
24 refreshments provided during the meeting of the board, child care and travel, to the extent
25 that the department or agency of State Government with which the board is associated has
26 sufficient money in the budget of the department or agency to provide the compensation
27 and reimburse the expenses. The associated department or agency shall determine the
28 amount and manner of compensation provided to members of the board.
29 as amended by PL 1989, c. 503, Pt. B, §28, is
30 further amended to read:
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32 defined in section as advisory boards or boards with minimal authority, shall may
33 not exceed $25 the legislative per day diem for their time and payment of expenses.
34 A. Advisory and other boards, as defined in section , which that are not
35 authorized by law to be reimbursed for expenses shall are not be eligible for this
36 reimbursement except as authorized or allowed by section 12002-B, subsection 3.
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38 This bill amends the law governing compensation and reimbursement for expenses for
39 board members serving on advisory boards and boards with minimal authority established
40 in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section The bill provides an exception for
41 boards that are not currently authorized to receive compensation or reimbursement for
42 expenses to allow board members who have lived experience regarding the subject matter
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43 of the board to receive lived experience compensation if they are not otherwise
44 compensated for their time serving on the board by their employer or the entity they
45 represent. The bill allows board members to be compensated in an amount not to exceed
46 the legislative per diem for their time and be reimbursed for expenses, including but not
47 limited to meals and refreshments provided during the meeting of the board, child care and
48 travel, to the extent that the department or agency of State Government with which the
49 board is associated has sufficient money in the budget of the department or agency to
50 provide the compensation and reimburse the expenses. The associated department or
51 agency must determine the amount and manner of compensation provided to members of
52 the board.
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