AUGUSTA - Maine's population is aging, and the state's labor force participation rate has been shrinking. While businesses are struggling to find employees, Mainers are also struggling to pay for housing, groceries and child care all necessities that help keep workers in the labor market. House Democrats are committed to supporting our local industries and empowering a workforce that represents Maine today.
Jointly, the measures below will create pathways to help address our current worker shortage, keep workers safe on the job and ensure that the hiring process is more transparent.
LD 1206, An Act to Create a Grant Program for Workplace Health and Safety Improvements, sponsored by Rep. Kevin O'Connell, D-Brewer, would require the Maine Department of Labor to administer a grant program providing up to $5,000 for employers to pay for health and safety improvements, including to resources for health and safety equipment and training, at workplaces with 15 or fewer full-time employees. A public hearing was scheduled for today at 1 p.m. in the Labor and Housing Committee.
"This bill is good for small businesses, and its good for workplace safety," said OConnell. "Through this grant funding, we are helping those employers who want to provide additional or newer safety equipment for their staff but cant afford to do so."
LD 827, An Act to Allow Employees to Request Flexible Work Schedules, sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor, would allow employees to request schedules that better fit their lives without retaliation from their employers. The bill had a public hearing on Thursday, March 23. A work session will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
"Employers do not have to agree to a flexible work schedule request," said Roeder. "However, they should not be allowed to discipline employees who, in this new world of work, are trying to balance their work and home lives."
LD 936, An Act to Require Disclosure of Pay Ranges and Record Keeping of Pay History, sponsored by Rep. Roeder, would require an employer with 10 or more employees to include the pay range that will be offered to a successful applicant for an open position. Further, the bill would require all employers to disclose the range of pay the employer offers for the position the employee holds. The bill had a public hearing on Tuesday, March 21. A work session will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
"Applicants deserve to have a better understanding of what their prospective pay will be prior to applying for a job, and employers will better attract the pool of applicants they are looking for if they make pay ranges transparent," said Roeder.
LR 2340, An Act to Support Rural Educators, sponsored by Rep. Holly Eaton, D-Deer Isle, would increase the recruitment of teachers by expanding access to teacher preparation programs. It would provide up to 20 grants to financially assist student teachers and 15, one-time stipends to support the continuing education of teachers currently working in rural areas. The bill has not yet been printed.
"From Deer Isle to Farmington to Madawaska, our rural schools and teachers need more support," said Eaton. "This bill takes several steps in the right direction, including financial incentives for qualified students to do their student teaching in rural schools and a program to support qualified rural teachers in schools with continuing their education."
LD 688, An Act to Protect Access to Veterinary Care by Prohibiting Noncompete Agreements, sponsored by Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, would prohibit veterinarians from entering into noncompete agreements unless they have an ownership interest in the practice. Further, the bill would prohibit a court from enforcing a noncompete agreement that was signed prior to the date the bill would become law. The bill had a public hearing on Thursday, March 23. A work session will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
"In the states where noncompete agreements are allowed, corporate practices are moving in and limiting the areas where veterinarians can practice," said Fay. "In Maine, we need more veterinarians practicing, especially in the more rural parts of our state where services are hard to come by."
Collectively, this legislation will help address some of the needs of Maine's changing workforce by supporting both businesses and the workers they employ. You can find more information about bills introduced by House Democrats here.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Eaton, Fay, OConnell, Roeder], 305-965-2744