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Bill > LD1400
ME LD1400
ME LD1400An Act to Exempt Certain Public School Districts and Their Employees from the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program
summary
Introduced
04/01/2025
04/01/2025
In Committee
04/01/2025
04/01/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/05/2025
06/05/2025
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill provides that a school district is exempt from the paid family and medical leave benefits program if the school district: 1. Provided family leave and medical leave benefits substantially equivalent to those provided in the paid family and medical leave benefits program pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on January 1, 2025; and 2. Continually maintains substantially equivalent paid family leave and medical leave benefits for employees pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or other contractual agreement, including benefits for sick leave and family sick leave, that accrue annually to at least 12 weeks of leave. It also requires the Department of Labor to refund contributions made to the department by a school district before the school district was exempt from the paid family and medical leave benefits program. It requires a school district employer that deducted a portion of the premium to the employee as part of the employee's wage to remit that portion of the premium to the employee as part of the employee's wage.
AI Summary
This bill provides an exemption for certain public school districts from the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) benefits program, allowing them to opt out if they already offer substantially equivalent leave benefits through existing collective bargaining agreements. Specifically, a school district can be exempt if it had family and medical leave benefits comparable to the state's PFML program as of January 1, 2025, and continues to maintain these benefits through ongoing collective bargaining or contractual agreements that provide at least 12 weeks of leave annually. The bill requires the Department of Labor to refund any contributions previously made by qualifying school districts to the PFML program, and mandates that school districts that deducted premium portions from employee wages must return those deductions directly to employees. The bill applies retroactively to October 25, 2023, meaning its provisions take effect from that date. This legislation essentially allows school districts with robust existing leave policies to maintain their current systems instead of participating in the state's standardized PFML program.
Committee Categories
Labor and Employment
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) (on 06/05/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1400&snum=132 |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0922&item=1&snum=132 |
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