131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1636 LR 731(02)
An Act to Ensure the Right to Work Without Payment of Dues or Fees to a Labor Union
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Labor and Housing
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Potential current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Minor revenue increase - General Fund
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
Establishes new Class D crimes and may increase the number of civil suits filed in the court system.
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require additional funding at this time. The collection of additional filing fees and fines will increase General Fund or other dedicated revenue by minor amounts.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill may increase litigation before the Maine Labor Relations Board, resulting in increased payments to board members for per diem and other expenses.  Pursuant to Title 26, section 968, per diem and necessary expenses for members and alternates of the board, as well as state cost allocation program charges, may be paid from the board's General Fund appropriation if the executive director determines that doing so would not create a financial hardship for the board.  If the executive director determines that doing so would create a financial hardship, the costs must be shared equally by the parties to any proceedings at which the board presides and must be paid into a special fund administered by the board from which all costs are paid. 
Additional costs to the Attorney General to enforce the right to refrain from joining a labor organization or paying any labor organization dues or fees as a condition of employment or continuation of employment can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.