§151. Workers' Compensation Board

1.  Board established.  Pursuant to Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 35, the Workers' Compensation Board is established as an independent board composed of 7 members. The members of the board, including the executive director, 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 labor matters and confirmation by the Legislature. Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 3, section 157, 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.

The board consists of 3 representatives of management, 3 representatives of labor and the executive director appointed pursuant to subsection 1-A. 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 Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, a service provider to the workers' compensation system or a representative of a service provider to the workers' compensation system. In addition to the conflict of interest provisions in section 152, subsection 8, a member of the board may not take part in reaching a decision or recommendation in any matter that directly affects an insurer, self-insurer, group self-insurer or labor organization that the member represents.

Members of the board representing management and labor hold office for staggered terms of 4 years, commencing and expiring on February 1st, except for initial appointees and members appointed to fill unexpired terms.

[PL 2009, c. 640, §1 (AMD).]

1-A.  Executive director.  The Governor shall appoint an executive director, who is the chair and chief executive officer of the board. The executive director serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Except as otherwise provided, the executive director shall, at the direction of the board, hire personnel as necessary to administer this Act, subject to the Civil Service Law.

[PL 2003, c. 608, §6 (NEW).]

2.  Removal.  Board members representing management and labor hold office for the terms provided, unless removed, and until their successors are appointed and qualified. They must be sworn and may be removed by the Governor for inefficiency, willful neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but only with the review and concurrence of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters upon hearing in executive session or by impeachment. Before removing a board member, the Governor shall notify the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the removal and the reasons for the removal.

[PL 2003, c. 608, §7 (AMD).]

3.  Vacancies.  If a vacancy occurs during a term of a management or labor member, the Governor shall appoint a replacement to fill the unexpired part of the term. The replacement must be from the group represented by the member being replaced.

[PL 2003, c. 608, §7 (AMD).]

4.  Chair.

[PL 2003, c. 608, §8 (RP).]

5.  Voting requirements; meetings.  The board may take action only by majority vote of its membership. The board may hold sessions at its central office or at any other place within the State and shall establish procedures through which members who are not physically present may participate by telephone or other remote-access technology. Regular meetings may be called by the executive director or by any 4 members of the board, and all members must be given at least 7 days' notice of the time, place and agenda of the meeting. A quorum of the board is 4 members, but a smaller number may adjourn until a quorum is present. Emergency meetings may be called by the executive director when it is necessary to take action before a regular meeting can be scheduled. The executive director shall make all reasonable efforts to notify all members as promptly as possible of the time and place of any emergency meeting and the specific purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. For an emergency meeting, the 4 members constituting a quorum must include at least one board member representing management and at least one board member representing labor.

[PL 2003, c. 608, §9 (AMD).]

6.  Salary; expenses.  A board member is entitled to a per diem of $100 per day. Members of the board receive their actual, necessary, cash expenses while on official business of the board.

[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]

7.  Leave of absence.  An employer may not terminate the employment of an employee who is appointed as a member of the board because of the exercise by the employee of duties required as a board member. The member is entitled to a leave of absence from employment for the period of time required to perform the duties of a board member. During the leave of absence, the member may not be subjected to loss of time, vacation time, or benefits of employment, excluding salary.

[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]

8.  Headquarters; regional offices.  The board must have its central office in the Augusta area and such district offices as it may choose to establish. The board may hold sessions at any place within the State.

[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]

9.  Seal.  The board must have a seal bearing the words "Workers' Compensation Board of Maine."

[PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §§9-11 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1991, c. 885, §A8 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 885, §§A9-11 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 382, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 608, §§5-9 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 640, §1 (AMD).