An Act to Increase the Per Diem Rate for Members of the Maine Labor Relations Board
Summary
LD 2218 increases the per diem compensation for members of the Maine Labor Relations Board. The bill amends the statutory compensation schedule in 5 MRSA §12004-B, raising the daily rate for board members from $75 to $100 and for the chair from $150 to $200. The measure is narrowly focused on board pay and does not otherwise change the board’s duties, authority, or procedures.
In practical terms, the bill updates the state’s compensation table for the Maine Labor Relations Board, which is the body responsible for administering and adjudicating certain public-sector labor relations matters under Title 26. By increasing the per diem, the bill affects state expenditures for board service and may help with recruitment and retention of board members and the chair. The bill was enacted as Public Law chapter 619 and approved by the Governor on April 3, 2026.
Impact
The bill amends Maine’s statutory per diem schedule for the Maine Labor Relations Board in 5 MRSA §12004-B, sub-§2, increasing compensation for ordinary members and the chair. It indirectly affects the state budget by increasing payments made for board service and may influence the administration of labor relations cases under 26 MRSA §968, but it does not alter substantive labor law or the board’s jurisdiction.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to have been noncontroversial and administrative in nature. The fact that it was enacted into law suggests there was sufficient support for the compensation increase, likely viewed as a routine adjustment rather than a major policy change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. If any concerns existed, they would most likely have centered on the cost of increasing per diem payments versus the need to adequately compensate and attract qualified members to the Maine Labor Relations Board. No opposing arguments, amendments, or recorded vote divisions are included here.
An Act Increasing The Per Diem Rate For Members Of The State Board Of Labor Relations And Compensation For Members Of The Board Of Mediation And Arbitration.
An Act Increasing The Per Diem Rate For Members Of The State Board Of Labor Relations And Compensation For Members Of The Board Of Mediation And Arbitration.