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An Act To Provide Compensation to a Corrections Officer Injured by a Patient or Prisoner
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA Pt. 12  is enacted to read:
PART 12
BENEFITS FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS
CHAPTER 551
SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS
§ 4501. Supplemental benefit for corrections officer
 
1.  Corrections officer.     "Corrections officer," as used in this chapter, has the same meaning as set forth in section 2801-A, subsection 2.
 
2.  Supplemental benefit.     A corrections officer who, while in the performance of duty, suffers bodily injury resulting from acts of a patient or prisoner in the custody of the jail, prison or state correctional facility where the corrections officer works and as a result of the injury is entitled to benefits under Title 39-A is entitled to a supplemental benefit in the amount of the difference between the weekly cash benefits to which the corrections officer is entitled under Title 39-A and the corrections officer's regular salary.
 
3.  Not chargeable against sick leave.     Any absence from work resulting from the injury described in subsection 2 may not be charged against available sick leave credits.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides for a supplemental benefit paid to a corrections officer who is injured by the acts of a patient or prisoner of the jail, prison or state correctional facility where the corrections officer works if the injury qualifies the corrections officer for workers' compensation benefits. The amount of the supplemental benefit is the difference between the corrections officer's workers' compensation benefits and the corrections officer's regular salary. In addition, the work time the corrections officer misses is not chargeable against available sick leave credits.