CHAPTER 382
H.P. 488 - L.D. 658
An Act To Improve the Operation of the Workers' Compensation Board
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 39-A MRSA §151, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 and affected by §§9 to 11, is amended to read:
1. Board established. Pursuant to Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 35, the Workers' Compensation Board is established as an independent board composed of 8 members. The members of the board must be appointed by the Governor within 30 days after a new board member is authorized or a vacancy occurs, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government labor matters and confirmation by the Legislature. Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 3, section 151, the designated committee shall complete its review of the appointments of the Governor within 15 days of the Governor's written notice of appointment and the vote of the Legislature must be taken no later than 7 days after the vote of the designated committee.
Four members of the board must be representatives of management and 4 members must be representatives of labor. All management representatives must be appointed from a list provided by the Maine Chamber of Commerce and Industry or other bona fide organization or association of employers. All labor representatives must be from a list provided by the Executive Board of the Maine AFL-CIO or other bona fide labor organization or association of employees representing at least 10% of the Maine work force. Any list submitted to the Governor must have at least 4 times the number of names as there are vacancies for the group represented by the vacancies.
A member of the board is not liable in a civil action for any act performed in good faith in the execution of duties as a board member.
A member of the board may not be a lobbyist required to be registered with the Secretary of State, a service provider to the workers' compensation system or a representative of a service provider to the workers' compensation system.
Members of the board hold office for staggered terms of 4 years, except for the initial members of the board. The terms of one member representing management and one member representing labor expire February 1st of each year. A member may not serve for more than 2 full terms.
The Governor shall initially designate one member representing management and one member representing labor for terms expiring February 1, 1994; one member representing management and one member representing labor for terms expiring February 1, 1995; one member representing management and one member representing labor for terms expiring February 1, 1996; and one member representing management and one member representing labor for terms expiring February 1, 1997.
Effective September 13, 2003, unless otherwise indicated.
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