Legislators are now paying for the slow start of the session
earlier this year, when over a month was spent in orientation meetings and
briefings and they had very few bills to consider. Even February and early March were relatively
quiet. This week, however, continues the
quickened pace that begin a few weeks ago.
SESSION
Senate & House Sessions – 10 a.m. Tuesday & Thursday
LEGISLATION
As of today 1,266 bills have been printed.
www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_127th/billtexts/
Ideas for new legislation include:
- Permit garnishment of state income tax refunds
for satisfaction of money judgments (LD 1163) - Create a Toxic Chemicals in the Workplace Act
(LD 1165) - Prohibit the use of eminent domain by a private
entity in certain public-private partnerships (LD 1168) - Create civil cause of action for intentional
interference with business operations (LD 1200) - Standardize and simply process for employers to
provide drug-free workplace (LD 1201) - Require at least 2 weeks advance notice of work
schedule changes for hourly workers at businesses with more than 100 employees
(LD 1217)
DON’T ASK APPLICANTS THESE QUESTIONS
Did you know that asking when a job application graduated
from high school is unlawful under the Maine Human Rights Act? This and other unlawful questions – as well
as lawful questions – are described in a handy “Pre-employment Inquiry Guide”
published by the Maine Human Rights Commission.
(You may ask an applicant if they are under the age of 18 and, if so,
their age.)
www.maine.gov/mhrc/guidance/pre-employment_inquiry_guide.htm
KEY HEARINGS THIS WEEK
Victims of Violence Workplace Leave – A hearing will be held
April 6 at 9:30 a.m. on legislation that increases the leave form the workplace
a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence may take (LD 921). NFIB will urge lawmakers to oppose this
well-intentioned by overreaching legislation and not tie the hands of small
employers who make reasonable accommodations for their workers.
Family Caregivers Leave – A hearing will be held April 6 at
9:30 on legislation that expands the family & medical leave act (FMLA) to
include grandparents and great-grandparents of employees (LD 960). NFIB will urge lawmakers oppose this
legislation and consider the effects on small employers and avoid imposing new
legal burdens for matters that employers already handle informally. LD 960 would represent a major expansion of
Maine’s FMLA law. Maine already has one
of the most controlling laws in the nation.
Sales Tax Holiday – The Taxation committee will hear
testimony April 6 at 10 a.m. on legislation that declares the 2nd
Saturday in August as a sales tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers. LD 759 exempts individual clothing items with
a price of $200 or less and individual school supplies with a price of $100 or
less. LD 932 sets a $100 ceiling on
individual clothing items, $100 on individual school supplies, and $1,500 on
individual computers. NFIB will submit a
statement in support .
Gas Tax Indexing – NFIB will oppose legislation that
reinstates gas tax indexing (LD 901).
The Transportation committee is hearing the bill at 1 p.m. on April 7.
KEY WORK SESSIONS THIS WEEK
Bad Check Penalties – The Criminal Justice & Public
Safety committee will meet at 1 p.m. on April 6 to discuss what action to take
on legislation that increases the penalties for writing bad checks (LD
577). NFIB supports this legislation.
Joint Liability Reform – The Judiciary committee will meet
at 2:30 p.m. on April 7 to discuss what action to take on legislation that
limits the liability of a business found to be less than 50% responsible as a
defendant in a lawsuit (LD 434). NFIB
supports this important tort liability reform.
GOVERNOR’S TAX PLAN
Taxation committee members may reveal this week their
recommendations to the Appropriations committee on what to include and exclude
in Governor LePage’s controversial plan to reduce income taxes, raise the
general sales tax rate, expand the sales tax to various services, and make
other changes in the tax laws. NFIB does
not yet have a position on this issue but will survey small business owners this
month on their views of the various tax plans.
MINIMUM WAGE
Bills to increase the minimum wage were tabled last week
after a work session by the Labor, Commerce, Research & Economic
Development committee, as talks continue among some business allies who are
exploring support for an increase of some amount. NFIB opposes this compromise effort. Even a seemingly modest increase will be
expensive for many small businesses.
LOOKING AHEAD
Transportation Funding Study – LD 706, which creates a
commission to study options for new ways to tax highway users, will be the
subject of a hearing by the Transportation committee at 1 p.m. on April 14.
Local Option Sales Tax – NFIB will oppose legislation to
create a municipal local option sales tax of 1-cent (LD 594). Voters of the municipality would have to
approve the tax. Certain big ticket
items would be excluded. A public
hearing will be held by the Taxation committee at 1 p.m. on April 16.
KEY WEBSITES
Governor – www.maine.gov/governor
Legislature – http://legislature.maine.gov
Bill Status Search – http://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/search.asp
Regulations – www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/index.html
