Sen. Hickman bills to improve retirement benefits for state workers advance through Maine Legislature
AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, April 15, the Joint Standing Committee on Labor voted to advance LD 137, “An Act to Expand the 1998 Special Retirement Plan to Include Employees Who Work for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,” and LD 794, “An Act to Include Judicial Marshals in the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement.” These bills, together with LD 240 and LD 467, are all sponsored by Senator Craig Hickman of Winthrop and would improve retirement benefits for various groups of public workers and retirees in Maine. Specifically, these pieces of legislation impact retirement benefits for judicial marshals, employees in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, municipal workers who retire under a state retirement plan and retirees not eligible for Social Security payments.
“Our public employees serve the people of Maine in so many ways, from keeping us safe to teaching our kids,” said Sen. Hickman. “I appreciate the Committee advancing these bills to ensure we keep our promises to the state workforce and provide adequate compensation to our public employees, even after they begin their hard-earned retirement. This includes recognizing the extra sacrifices made by some of our state workers in particularly taxing or dangerous careers by including them in the Special Retirement Plan. Additionally, I thank Governor Mills for her swift action on LD 240 to help municipal workers who retire under a state plan.”
LD 240, “An Act to Create Consistency in Retirement Service Benefits Deferral Under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System,” was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on March 25, following unanimous passage in both the House and Senate. This law allows certain employees with local retirement benefits through the Maine Public Employees Retirement System to defer any benefits that would be reduced due to not yet reaching normal retirement age.
LD 467, “An Act to Require the State to Pay Medicare Part B Premiums for Certain Retired State Employees,” received a vote of 6 to 4 on March 12 in the Labor Committee that it Ought to Pass as Amended. The bill requires the State to pay Medicare Part B premiums for certain public retirees not eligible for Social Security. This would ensure the State keeps its previously made promises to retirees who were hired before 1986.
LD 137, “An Act to Expand the 1998 Special Retirement Plan to Include Employees Who Work for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,” and LD 794, “An Act to Include Judicial Marshals in the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement,” would expand the 1998 Special Retirement Plan to include employees in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Judicial Marshals, respectively. Both bills were voted Ought to Pass as Amended by the majority of Labor Committee members.
LDs 467, 137, and 794 now face votes in the House and Senate.
LD 240 will go into effect on June 20, 2025.
Sen. Hickman represents Maine Senate District 14, which includes Chelsea, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester, Monmouth, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Wayne, West Gardiner and Winthrop.
###