An Act To Establish Penalties for Violation of the Severance Pay Law
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §625-B, sub-§6-A, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 337, is amended to read:
6-A. Notice to employees and municipality. Any A person proposing to terminate or to relocate a covered establishment outside the State shall notify employees , and the municipal officers of the municipality where the plant is located , in writing not less than 60 days prior to the termination or relocation unless this notice requirement is waived by the director. Any A person violating that violates this provision commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged, provided except that no forfeiture a fine may not be adjudged if the relocation is necessitated by a physical calamity, or if the failure to give notice is due to unforeseen circumstances. A fine imposed pursuant to this subsection may not be collected by the Department of Labor to the extent such collection prevents the violator from making all payments required under subsection 2.
Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §625-B, sub-§9 is enacted to read:
9. Penalties. A person that violates subsection 2 commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $1,000 per violation may be adjudged. Each employee affected constitutes a separate violation. Any such fine may not be collected by the Department of Labor to the extent such collection prevents the violator from making all payments required under subsection 2.
Effective September 20, 2007