An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Pine Tree Development Zones To Require Payment of a Livable Wage
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §1406, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 569, §3, is amended to read:
§ 1406. Calculation of livable wage
By July 1, 2013 and biennially thereafter, the department shall calculate the livable wage and develop a basic needs budget for households in this State and in each of the State's counties based on, at a minimum, a 2-parent household with 2 earners and 2 children representative family size , but only if funding has been appropriated for these purposes.
By December 1, 2013 and biennially thereafter, the department shall report the livable wages calculated and the basic needs budget for households developed pursuant to this section to the Legislature if funds have been appropriated for these purposes.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §5250-I, sub-§18, as amended by PL 2005, c. 351, §4 and affected by §26, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §5250-S, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 468, §1, is further amended to read:
Summary
This bill requires that a qualified employee under the Pine Tree Development Zone program be paid at least a livable wage for the county in which the employee is employed. Current law requires that such an employee be paid an amount greater than the annual per capita personal income for the county in which the employee is employed. This bill also requires the Department of Labor to calculate the livable wage biennially by county and statewide. Current law requires the department to calculate the statewide livable wage only if funding has been appropriated for that purpose.