State-wide Advocacy and Policy Change
The MOA actively represents you at the Maine State Legislature. Below is a sample of the current bills that the MOA has testified at and provided comments on to various committees. We encourage MOA members to join the Legislative Committee if you have interests in public policy and health care reform.
Legislative Updates: (last updated 4/10/09)
Please note: You can search for the text of any bill or its status by visiting: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/search.aspJust type in the bill number if you know it or complete an advance search and look for key words.
Title: LD 373, An Act to Facilitate Lactation in the Workplace by New Mothers
Bill Sponsor: Melissa Innes
MOA’s Position: Support
Outcome: Labor Committee voted “ought to pass as amended”
Language that went forth as amended: An employer, including the state of Maine and its subdivisions, shall provide adequate unpaid break time or permit an employee to use paid break time or meal time each day to allow an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for up to three years following child birth. The employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide a clean room or other location, other than a bathroom, in close proximity to the work area, where an employee may express milk in privacy. No employer shall discriminate in any way against an employee who chooses to express breast milk in the work place.
Bill Title: LD 424, Resolve, Directing the Dept. of Education and the Dept. of Health and Human Services to Adopt Rules Requiring a Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis Booster Vaccination in School-age Children
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Garry Connor
Outcome: Public Hearing was held on Monday, March 16th and work session scheduled for April 1st at 9:00 am in 209 Cross Office Building.
Bill Title: LD 550, An Act to Protect Maine Residents from Home Fires and Carbon Monoxide
Bill Sponsor: Senator Bill Diamond
MOA’s Position: Support
Outcome: Passed!
Bill Title: LD 610, An Act To Add 10 Days to the School Year and To Require Daily Physical Exercise for All School Children
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Peter Mills
MOA’s Position: Neither for Nor Against
Outcome: The Education Committee voted unanimously “ought not to pass”. Our position was neither for nor against. Our testimony indicated that while we strongly support physical activity in schools, we also recognized the fiscal note was too much burden on schools in tough economic times.
Bill Title: LD 802, An Act to Require on Medical Services or Treatment Provided to Minors without Parental Consent
Bill Sponsor: Senator Richard Nass
MOA Position: Monitor
Outcome: No public hearing has been scheduled yet.
Bill Title: LD 853, An Act to Encourage Maine Residents to Attend Medical School and Practice in Maine
Bill Sponsor: Senator Lisa Marrache
MOA’s Position: Support
Outcome: Public Hearing was held on Monday, March 23rd at 1:00 pm in front of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. Work session scheduled for April 15th at 1:00 pm.
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