Whereas, certain obligations and expenses incident to the operation of the state collective bargaining agreements for the judicial branch will become due and payable immediately; and

Whereas, it is the responsibility of the Legislature to act upon the portions of the collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the judicial branch that require legislative action; and

Whereas, the Governor and the Legislature share a desire to address in a timely manner the needs of certain judicial branch employees excepted from collective bargaining; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

PART A

Sec. A-1. Adjustment of salary schedule for fiscal year 1999-00. Effective at the beginning of the pay week commencing closest to July 1, 1999, the salary schedule for the employees of the Judicial Department in the administrative services bargaining unit, the supervisory bargaining unit and the professional bargaining unit must be adjusted by 3%, consistent with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements.

Sec. A-2. Adjustment of salary schedule for fiscal year 2000-01. Effective at the beginning of the pay week commencing closest to July 1, 2000, the salary schedule for the employees of the Judicial Department in the administrative services bargaining unit, the supervisory bargaining unit and the professional bargaining unit must be adjusted by 2%, consistent with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements.

Sec. A-3. Addition of new step for fiscal year 2000-01. Effective at the beginning of the pay period commencing closest to April 1, 2001, the salary schedule for the employees of the Judicial Department in the administrative services bargaining unit, the supervisory bargaining unit and the professional bargaining unit must be adjusted by eliminating the first step and adding a new top step so that employees are paid at the new rates to which