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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 539H.P. 358House of Representatives, February 11, 2025
An Act to Repeal the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits
Program
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RUDNICKI of Fairfield.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CHAPMAN of Auburn, DUCHARME of Madison, EDER of
Waterboro, LANCE of Paris, QUINT of Hodgdon, SOBOLESKI of Phillips, STROUT of
Harrington, Senator: BERNARD of Aroostook. Page 1 - 132LR0764(01)1 acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3 contributions to the paid family and medical leave benefits program
4 established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 6-C began on
5 January 1, 2025; and
6 to stop economic harm to employers and employees, contributions must
7 stop and be refunded to employers and employees as soon as possible; and
8 in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
9 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
10 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
11 therefore,
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14 is further amended to read:
15 I. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor
16 matters shall use the following list as a guideline for scheduling reviews:
17 (2) Department of Labor in 2023;
18 (3) Maine Labor Relations Board in 2025; and
19 (4) Workers' Compensation Board in 2025; and .
20 ( 5) The paid family and medical leave benefits program established in Title 26,
21 chapter 7, subchapter 6‑C in 2029.
22 as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA,
23 §2, is repealed.
24 as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §3, is further
25 amended to read:
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27 The bureau shall collect, assort and arrange statistical details relating to all departments
28 of labor and industrial pursuits in the State; to trade unions and other labor organizations
29 and their effect upon labor and capital; to the number and character of industrial accidents
30 and their effect upon the injured, their dependent relatives and upon the general public; to
31 other matters relating to the commercial, industrial, social, educational, moral and sanitary
32 conditions prevailing within the State, including the names of firms, companies or
33 corporations, where located, the kind of goods produced or manufactured, the time operated
34 each year, the number of employees classified according to age and sex and the daily and
35 average wages paid each employee; and the exploitation of such other subjects as will tend
36 to promote the permanent prosperity of the industries of the State. The director is authorized
37 and empowered, subject to the approval of the Governor, to accept from any other agency
38 of government, individual, group or corporation such funds as may be available in carrying
39 out this section, and meet such requirements with respect to the administration of such
40 funds, not inconsistent with this section, as are required as conditions precedent to receiving
41 such funds. An accounting of such funds and a report of the use to which they were put Page 2 - 132LR0764(01)
42 must be included in the biennial report to the Governor. Each agency of government shall
43 cooperate fully with the bureau's efforts to compile labor and industrial statistics. The
44 director shall cause to be enforced all laws regulating the employment of minors; all laws
45 established for the protection of health, lives and limbs of operators in workshops and
46 factories, on railroads and in other places; all laws regulating the payment of wages; and
47 all laws enacted for the protection of the working classes. During an investigation to
48 enforce those laws, the director may request records and other information relating to an
49 employer's compliance with unemployment compensation and workers' compensation
50 laws, including information needed to determine whether the employer has properly
51 classified a worker as an independent contractor, and shall report suspected violations of
52 those laws to the state or federal agency responsible for enforcing them. The director may
53 adopt, in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, rules regarding all such
54 laws, except where this authority is granted to a board or commission. Rules adopted
55 pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375,
56 subchapter . The director shall, on or before the first day of July, biennially, report to
57 the Governor, and may make such suggestions and recommendations as the director may
58 deem necessary for the information of the Legislature. The director may from time to time
59 cause to be printed and distributed bulletins upon any subject that is of public interest and
60 benefit to the State, including, but not limited to, the paid family and medical leave benefits
61 program established in chapter 7, subchapter , and may conduct a program of research,
62 education and promotion to reduce industrial accidents. The director may review various
63 data, such as workers' compensation records, as well as other information relating to any
64 public or private employer's safety experience. When any individual public or private
65 employer's safety experience causes the director to question seriously the safe working
66 environment of that employer, the director may offer any safety education and consultation
67 programs to that employer that may be beneficial in providing a safer work environment.
68 If the employer refuses this assistance or is in serious noncompliance which that may lead
69 to injuries, or if serious threats to worker safety continue, then the director shall
70 communicate concerns to appropriate agencies, such as the United States Occupational
71 Safety and Health Administration. As used in this section, the term "noncompliance"
72 means a lack of compliance with any applicable health and safety regulations of the United
73 States Occupational Safety and Health Administration or other federal agencies. The
74 bureau is responsible for the enforcement of indoor air quality and ventilation standards
75 with respect to state-owned buildings and buildings leased by the State. The bureau shall
76 enforce air quality standards in a manner to ensure that corrections to problems found in
77 buildings be made over a reasonable period of time, using consent agreements and other
78 approaches as necessary and reasonable.
38 The director may enter into reciprocal agreements with other states that maximize
39 compliance with employment standards enforced by the director.
40 as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA,
41 §4, is further amended to read:
42 F. Minimum wage and overtime provisions as described in section 664; and
43 as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA,
44 §5, is further amended to read:
45 G. Earned paid leave; and .
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1 as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. AAA, §6,
2 is repealed.
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4 is repealed.
5 is repealed.
6 is repealed.
7 is repealed.
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9 The Department
10 of Labor shall refund to employers and self-employed individuals contributions made to
11 the Department of Labor pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 850-F,
12 as repealed by this Act. An employer that deducted a portion of the premium required for
13 an employee from that employee's wages shall remit that portion of the premium to the
14 employee as part of the employee's wages.
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16 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before June
17 30, 2025, the State Controller shall transfer all unappropriated funds from the Department
18 of Labor, Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds
19 account to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.
20
21 Statutes, Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 6-C applies retroactively to October 25, 2023.
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23 takes effect when approved.
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25 This bill repeals the provisions of law related to the paid family and medical leave
26 benefits program. The bill requires the Department of Labor to refund contributions made
27 by employers and self-employed individuals to the Department of Labor under the paid
28 family and medical leave benefits program. The bill requires an employer that deducted a
29 portion of the premium required for an employee from that employee's wages to remit that
30 portion of the premium to the employee as part of the employee's wages. The bill requires
31 the State Controller to transfer unappropriated funds from the Department of Labor, Paid
32 Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account to the
33 unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.
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