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An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Appointees to the Maine Labor Relations Board
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §968, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1991, c. 798, §6, is further amended to read:
 
1. Maine Labor Relations Board.   The Maine Labor Relations Board, established by Title 5, section 12004-B, subsection 2, consists of 3 members and 6 alternates appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters and to confirmation by the Legislature. The Governor, in making appointments, shall name one member and 2 alternates to represent employees, one member and 2 alternates to represent employers and one member and 2 alternates to represent the public. The member and alternates representing employees may not have worked in a management capacity or represented employer interests in any proceedings at any time during the prior 6 years. The member and alternates representing the public may not have worked in a management capacity or represented employer interests in any proceedings or have worked for a labor organization or served in a leadership role in a labor organization at any time during the prior 6 years. The member representing the public serves as the board's chair and the alternate representing the public serves as an alternate chair. Members of the board are entitled to compensation according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379. The alternates are entitled to compensation at the same per diem rate as the member that the alternate replaces. The term of each member and each alternate is 4 years, except that of the members and alternates first appointed, one member and 2 alternates are appointed for a term of 4 years, one member and 2 alternates are appointed for a term of 3 years and one member and 2 alternates are appointed for a term of 2 years. The members of the board, its alternates and its employees are entitled to receive necessary expenses. Per diem and necessary expenses for members and alternates of the board, as well as state cost allocation program charges, must be shared equally by the parties to any proceeding at which the board presides and must be paid into a special fund administered by the board from which all costs must be paid. The executive director may estimate costs upon receipt of a request for services and collect those costs prior to providing the services. The executive director shall bill or reimburse the parties, as appropriate, for any difference between the estimated costs that were collected and the actual costs of providing the services. Once one party has paid its share of the estimated cost of providing the service, the matter is scheduled for hearing. A party who has not paid an invoice for the estimated or actual cost of providing services within 60 days of the date the invoice was issued is, in the absence of good cause shown, liable for the amount of the invoice together with a penalty in the amount of 25% of the amount of the invoice. Any penalty amount collected pursuant to this provision remains in the special fund administered by the Maine Labor Relations Board, and that fund does not lapse. The executive director is authorized to collect any sums due and payable pursuant to this provision through civil action. In such an action, the court shall allow litigation costs, including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, to be deposited in the General Fund if the executive director is the prevailing party in the action. At its discretion, the board may allocate all costs to a party that presents a frivolous complaint or defense or that commits a blatant violation of the applicable collective bargaining law. When the board meets on administrative or other matters that do not concern the interests of particular parties or when any board member presides at a prehearing conference, the members' per diem and necessary expenses must be paid from the board's regular appropriation for these purposes. The executive director and legal or professional personnel employed by the board are members of the unclassified service.
Sec. 2. Application. This Act applies to all appointments and reappointments to the Maine Labor Relations Board, pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 968, of members and alternates commencing after the effective date of this Act.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.