Maine Employment and Labor Law Updates 2021


December

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


November

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


October

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


September

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


August

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


July

Fair Chance in Employment

Bill

House Bill 845

Summary

Relates to fair chance in employment; relates to criminal history record information; relates to employment application.

Enacted

06/24/2021

Effective Date

10/18/2021

Topics

Age; Disability; Discrimination; Familial_status; Gender_identity


Laws Governing Unemployment Compensation

Bill

Senate Bill 507

Summary

Amends the laws governing unemployment compensation; provides that on a specified date, the excess earnings cap then in effect must be increased by the increase, if any, in the cost of living; provides for the determination of whether there has been a state on indicator or a state off indicator beginning or ending any extended benefit period must be made under specified circumstances; provides for peer workforce navigator pilot program.

Enacted

07/12/2021

Effective Date

10/18/2021

Topics

Unemployment


School Employees and Workplace Bullying

Bill

Senate Bill 294

Summary

Protects school employees from workplace bullying; provides that a school board shall adopt and implement a policy to address the negative effects of bullying of school employees by administrators, school employees, parents, students or any other individuals associated with the public school and to ensure the safety of employees and an inclusive environment for all employees and students in the public school; provides reimbursement; provides appropriations and allocations.

Enacted

07/15/2021

Effective Date

06/29/2021

Topics

Policy_requirement; Workplace_bullying; Boards_of_Education


Discrimination Against Domestic Violence Victims

Bill

Senate Bill 422

Summary

Amends the Maine Human Rights Act; prevents discrimination against domestic violence victims; relates to unlawful employment discrimination; relates to unlawful housing discrimination.

Enacted

07/15/2021

Effective Date

06/29/2021

Topics

Discrimination; Domestic_violence


Collective Bargaining Agreements With Executive Branch

Bill

House Bill 1299

Summary

Funds collective bargaining agreements with executive branch employees; grants similar and equitable treatment consistent with this Act for confidential employees; grants similar and equitable treatment consistent with this Act for those unclassified employees; relates to Salary Plan program.

Enacted

07/30/2021

Effective Date

10/18/2021

Topics

Collective_bargainin; Covid; Government;


June

Good Paying Jobs and Apprenticeships

Bill

Senate Bill 253

Summary

Improves the lives of Maine workers by supporting apprenticeships that lead to good paying jobs; provides that the Maine Apprenticeship Program shall apply at least 75 percent of program funding used for reimbursement of direct training costs toward apprenticeship programs in which the apprentice starting wage is at least 1.25 times the rate of the minimum wage and the ending wage, upon completion of the apprenticeship agreement, is at least 1.5 times the rate of the minimum wage.

Enacted

06/10/2021

Effective Date

06/29/2021

Topics

Apprenticeships


Grandparents and Family Medical Leave Laws

Bill

House Bill 27

Summary

Improves the lives of Maine workers by supporting apprenticeships that lead to good paying jobs; provides that the Maine Apprenticeship Program shall apply at least 75 percent of program funding used for reimbursement of direct training costs toward apprenticeship programs in which the apprentice starting wage is at least 1.25 times the rate of the minimum wage and the ending wage, upon completion of the apprenticeship agreement, is at least 1.5 times the rate of the minimum wage.

Enacted

06/14/2021

Effective Date

06/29/2021

Topics

Domestic_partner; Grandchild; Family; Medical


Consistency Within the State Human Rights Act

Bill

Senate Bill 544

Summary

Improves the lives of Maine workers by supporting apprenticeships that lead to good paying jobs; provides that the Maine Apprenticeship Program shall apply at least 75 percent of program funding used for reimbursement of direct training costs toward apprenticeship programs in which the apprentice starting wage is at least 1.25 times the rate of the minimum wage and the ending wage, upon completion of the apprenticeship agreement, is at least 1.5 times the rate of the minimum wage.

Enacted

06/24/2021

Effective Date

10/18/2021

Topics

Age; Disability; Discrimination; Familial_status; Gender_identity


May

Requirements for Criminal History Record Checks

Bill

House Bill 239

Summary

Amends state law to conform to the federal Family First Prevention Services Act law; provides that certain background check requirements apply to emergency children’s shelters, shelters for homeless children and any group home that provides care for children.

Enacted

05/05/2021

Effective Date

05/05/2021

Topics

Background_checks; Criminal_history; Residential_care; Shelter


April

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


March

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


February

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.


January

There were no employment and/or labor bills that were enacted that were identified.