Bill > LD406

This bill repeals the paid family and medical leave benefits program in Maine, effectively dismantling the program that was set to begin contributions on January 1, 2025. The legislation requires the Department of Labor to refund all contributions made by employers and self-employed individuals to the program, and mandates that employers who previously deducted premium portions from employee wages must return those deductions directly to employees as part of their wages. The bill also instructs the State Controller to transfer all unappropriated funds from the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund to the General Fund's unappropriated surplus by June 30, 2025. Additionally, the bill removes all references to the paid family and medical leave program from various state statutes and takes effect immediately due to an emergency clause, with the repeal of the program applying retroactively to October 25, 2023. The bill's rationale, as stated in its preamble, is to stop potential economic harm to employers and employees by halting the program and refunding contributions as quickly as possible.