An Act To Reform Corrections Officer Compensation in Maine

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  there is currently a severe and chronic shortage of corrections officers in this State; and

Whereas,  this shortage has resulted in mandatory overtime for current corrections officers, which has resulted in lower morale and serious safety issues, not only at the correctional facilities but for the corrections officers personally; and

Whereas,  it is imperative that action be taken as soon as possible to alleviate this shortage; 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,

Sec. 1. Adjustment of salary schedules for corrections officers. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, effective for the first pay period commencing on or after the effective date of this Act, the salary schedules for corrections officers must be adjusted upward to equal the salary schedule for a law enforcement officer in the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police. For purposes of this section, "corrections officer" means an employee of the State whose place of employment is a state correctional facility and who is responsible for the care, custody or direct supervision of a person confined in a state correctional facility or committed to the Long Creek Youth Development Center pursuant to an order of a court or as a result of an arrest or detention. For purposes of this section, "state correctional facility" has the same meaning as "correctional facility" in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-A, section 1001, subsection 6 and includes the Long Creek Youth Development Center.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the rate of pay for corrections officers working in state correctional facilities, including the Long Creek Youth Development Center, to equal the rate of pay for law enforcement officers in the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police.