Bill > LD539

This bill seeks to completely repeal Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program, which was set to begin contributions on January 1, 2025. The bill requires the Department of Labor to refund all contributions made by employers and self-employed individuals to the program, and mandates that employers who deducted premium portions from employee wages must return those deductions directly to employees as part of their wages. Additionally, the bill 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. The legislation removes all references to the paid leave program from existing laws, effectively eliminating the entire subchapter related to the program. The bill is being presented as an emergency measure, citing potential economic harm to employers and employees if the program were to continue, and will take effect immediately upon approval. The retroactivity clause applies the program's repeal retroactively to October 25, 2023, ensuring a comprehensive dismantling of the previously established paid family and medical leave benefits program.