An Act Regarding the Hiring of Immediate Family Members in State Government

Sec. 1. 2 MRSA §10  is enacted to read:

§ 10.  Hiring and promotion neutrality

The following requirements apply to the hiring or promotion of a person in the Governor's office after October 1, 2011.

Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §170-B  is enacted to read:

§ 170-B.  Hiring and promotion neutrality

The following requirements apply to hiring or promotion of a person in the partisan or nonpartisan staff offices of the Legislature after October 1, 2011.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §81,  as amended by PL 1977, c. 674, §1, is further amended to read:

§ 81. Office and duties; vacancy; salary; expenses; fees

The Department of the Secretary of State, as heretofore established, shall consist consists of the Secretary of State, the State Archives and such other state departments and agencies as are by law subject to the direction of the Secretary of State. The secretary shall keep his the secretary office at the seat of government ; and have the custody of the state seal and preserve all records in such office , at the expense of the State. The Secretary of State may appoint deputy secretaries of state who shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of State. The secretary shall designate one of his the deputies as first deputy secretary of state. When a vacancy happens in the office of Secretary of State during the recess of the Legislature, the first deputy secretary of state shall act as Secretary of State until a Secretary of State is elected by the Legislature. Such deputy shall take the oath required of the elected Secretary of State and have the same compensation while he performs performing the duties of the office. After October 1, 2011, the Secretary of State shall appoint deputy secretaries of state based on qualifications for the position, but may not appoint a family or household member. The Secretary of State or an employee of the office of the Secretary of State may not directly supervise a family or household member. As used in this section, "family or household member" means spouse, domestic partner, parent, natural or legally adopted child, stepchild, sibling, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

The Secretary of State and his the deputy shall secretaries receive such actual traveling expenses incident to the administration of his the department as shall be are necessary.

The Secretary of State shall collect the legal and usual fees payable to him the secretary by virtue of his the office and shall pay them over forthwith to the Treasurer of State.

Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §155  is enacted to read:

§ 155.  Hiring and promotion neutrality

The following requirements apply to hiring or promotion of a person in the office of the Treasurer of the State after October 1, 2011.

Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §196,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 154, §1, is further amended by adding after the first paragraph a new paragraph to read:

After October 1, 2011, the Attorney General shall appoint deputy attorneys general based on qualifications for the position, but may not appoint a family or household member. The Attorney General or an employee of the office of the Attorney General may not directly supervise a family or household member. As used in this section, "family or household member" means spouse, domestic partner, parent, natural or legally adopted child, stepchild, sibling, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

Summary

This bill requires the Governor, the Legislature and the constitutional officers to hire or promote staff within those offices based on qualifications and prohibits the hiring of family or household members. This bill also prohibits an employee from supervising a family or household member of that employee, which includes a spouse, domestic partner, parent, natural or legally adopted child, stepchild, sibling, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law. It does not apply to anyone hired or promoted in those offices prior to October 1, 2011.