Representative Matthew Harrington

LD 342	An Act To Require a Person To Notify Law Enforcement Officers of the Possession of a Hypodermic Needle	Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 5, 2019
LD 342 This bill establishes the failure to inform a law enforcement officer of a person's possession of a hypodermic apparatus as a Class D crime. Under the bill, if a person discloses the possession of a hypodermic apparatus as required, the hypodermic apparatus and any contents of the apparatus are inadmissible as evidence in a prosecution for a violation of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, chapter 45.

LD 343	An Act To Promote Equity in Business Opportunity for Tobacco Specialty Stores	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, March 26, 2019
LD 343 This bill allows a tobacco specialty store to be licensed as a cigar lounge, which may serve nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages. A cigar lounge may not sell cigarettes or prepare food on premises for sale. A tobacco specialty store that is a cigar lounge must provide notice about the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke to applicants for employment and employees. The cigar lounge license fee is $100 per year.

LD 749	An Act To Increase the Transparency of the "Maine Open Checkbook" Website	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 26, 2019
LD 749 This bill requires the State Controller to maintain a publicly accessible website with up-to-date information concerning the State's payroll and vendor information, which is currently in existence and called the "Maine Open Checkbook." The bill requires the website to include the names of all recipients of state grants and track and record all payments made by quasi-public entities of the State and the dollar value of credits awarded through all state economic development programs.

LD 750	An Act To Allow Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Instructors To Instruct without State Certification	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 30, 2019
LD 750 This bill exempts from teacher certification requirements a federal Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps instructor certified by the United States Department of Defense providing Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps instruction to students in grade 9 to grade 12.

LD 966

An Act To Ensure Safer Childhood Vaccines (By request)

Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019

LD 966
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to require that patient intake forms used by all health care facilities, including hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care facilities, health care clinics and doctor's offices, include a question on the form regarding the date of the patient's most recent vaccine. This vaccine-related information will then be provided to the United States Department of Health and Human Services to aid its efforts to ensure safer childhood vaccines.

LD 1290	An Act To Increase Transparency with Regard to Pawnshops	Status: Referred to Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-415, Enacted, Signed into law June 13, 2019
LD 1290 Current law requires pawnbrokers to provide before the 15th day of every month to the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction a summary of the pawn transactions entered into during the preceding month. This bill requires pawnbrokers within 10 days of a pawn transaction to submit a report of the transaction to the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction and to a regional property and recovery tracking system administered by a regional law enforcement agency, currently the Regional Information Sharing Systems Program administered by the New England State Police Information Network, listing information concerning the consumer or seller in the transaction and of every item pawned or sold in the transaction. This bill makes a violation of the reporting requirements a Class E crime. Amendment H-415 This amendment removes the criminal provision included in the bill, removes the requirement for reporting to a law enforcement agency of jurisdiction and provides an effective date of July 1, 2020. LD 1290 Chaptered Law LD 1290 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1400

An Act To Improve Recruitment and Retention in State Law Enforcement by Offering Retirement Service Credit

Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-495, Enacted, Signed into law June 21, 2019

LD 1400
This bill allows a member of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program or the Participating Local District Retirement Program to purchase up to 4 years of service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer prior to membership.

It also allows a member of either program who served as a full-time active duty member of the United States Armed Forces during the Cold War, measured from January 1, 1947 to December 27, 1991, before becoming a member and who separated from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable to purchase service credit. This service credit is capped at 4 years for members of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program and 5 years for members of the Participating Local District Retirement Program.

Amendment H-495
This amendment replaces the bill. It allows a member of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program or the Participating Local District Retirement Program to purchase up to 4 years of service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer prior to membership at full actuarial cost if the member has at least 15 years of creditable service at the time of retirement. The amendment also requires that the member certify that the service credit to be purchased has not and will not be used to obtain other retirement benefits. The amendment also clarifies that the purchase of service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer may be applied to the requirement for creditable service of 25 years under the 1998 Special Plan.

LD 1400 Chaptered Law
LD 1400 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 1480	An Act To Modify Retirement Plans for Fire Investigators and Sergeants	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Enacted in the House as amended by Committee amendment H-568, tabled to Special Appropriations in the Senate June 19, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1480 This bill changes the eligibility requirements for the retirement of a state fire marshal investigator, state fire marshal senior investigator and state fire marshal sergeant under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System from 55 years of age and 25 years of creditable service to just 20 years of creditable service. Amendment H-568 This amendment is the majority report of the committee and replaces the bill. The amendment changes the eligibility requirements for the retirement of a state fire marshal investigator, state fire marshal senior investigator and state fire marshal sergeant under the Maine Public Employees Retirement System from 55 years of age and 25 years of creditable service to 20 years of creditable service. The amendment establishes a special retirement plan for a state fire marshal investigator, state fire marshal senior investigator and state fire marshal sergeant based on 20 years of creditable service. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section to provide the funding. LD 1480 Amendment H-568 fiscal note

LD 50	An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Government Oversight Committee To Improve the Development of a Long-range Strategic Plan for Economic Improvement in the State	Status: Referred to Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, June 6, 2019
LD 50 This bill provides additional clarity, requirements and resources for the Maine Economic Growth Council's efforts to fulfill its current statutory mandate to develop, monitor and maintain a long-range strategic economic improvement plan for the State. It also includes provisions to support the State's achievement of the goals and objectives in that plan by establishing requirements for the Governor, Legislature and agencies with relevant programs and activities to consider the long-range strategic economic improvement plan and provide information to the Maine Economic Growth Council at the request of the council.

LD 116	An Act To Extend the Duration of Temporary Licenses for Sale and Consumption of Liquor (Emergency)	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-5, Enacted as an emergency measure, Signed into law March 25, 2019
LD 116 This bill extends the duration of a liquor license issued to an incorporated civic organization from 7 days to 10 days. Amendment H-5 This amendment adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. LD 116 Chaptered Law LD 116 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 166	An Act To Protect Schoolchildren by Providing Additional Enforcement and Prevention Options for Unlawful Passing of a School Bus	Status: Referred to Transportation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-207, Enacted, Signed into law June 17, 2019
LD 166 This bill increases the penalty for overtaking a school bus when the bus has stopped with its red lights flashing from a $250 minimum fine to a $500 minimum fine for the first offense and increases the driver's license suspension from 30 days to 60 days for a 2nd offense. Amendment S-207 This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. Instead of increasing the penalty for the illegal passing of a school bus as in the bill, the amendment allows the State or a municipality to use a traffic surveillance camera mounted on a school bus to prove, enforce or open an investigation into a violation of illegally passing a school bus. The amendment provides that information recorded by a traffic surveillance camera mounted on a school bus is confidential and may be used only to prove, enforce or open an investigation into a violation and may not be retained for more than 30 days unless it is used to open an investigation. It also clarifies that the penalty provision in statute regarding overtaking and passing school buses applies only to the passing or overtaking of a school bus. The amendment also allows school buses to be equipped with extended stop arms that when activated extend 3 to 6 feet outward from the left side of a school bus. LD 166 Chaptered Law LD 166 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 175	An Act To Extend the Deer Hunting Season by 2 Saturdays	Status: Referred to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, March 7, 2019
LD 175 This bill extends the end of the regular firearm deer hunting season by 2 Saturdays.

LD 210

An Act To Increase Technology and Engineering Education for Grades 7 to 12

Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019

LD 210
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to enact measures to enhance technology and engineering education for students in grades 7 to 12. The measures include, but are not limited to:

1. Changing the industrial arts/technology teacher endorsement to a technology and engineering endorsement and amending the endorsement requirements. The amended endorsement requirements would grandfather all current teachers who hold an industrial arts/technology endorsement and make them technology and engineering teachers. The amended endorsement requirements would also allow a college graduate with an engineering degree to obtain a technology and engineering endorsement; and
2. Creating 3 categories of science endorsements: life science, physical science and technology and engineering.

LD 322	An Act To Strengthen Maine's Election Laws by Requiring Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 18, 2019
LD 322 This bill requires that a voter provide proof of identity with photographic identification approved by the Secretary of State by rule for the purpose of voting.

LD 357

An Act Regarding Court Facilities in York County

Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee, Dead, Non-concurrence, June 18, 2019

LD 357
This bill resolves logistical issues created by the construction of a consolidated courthouse for York County in Biddeford. Earlier legislation that authorized construction of the courthouse did not factor in adequate space for the office of the district attorney, a required component of the judicial process. This bill provides for the construction of a building of sufficient size to accommodate the office of the district attorney to be connected to the new courthouse. This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $6,000,000 in Maine Government Facilities Authority securities to construct the building, but the planning and design, a joint project by the judicial branch and York County, will be covered by the existing funding of the courthouse.

The goal of this bill is to make the new building as cost-neutral to the parties as possible. York County will pay the debt service on the bonds and pay annual rent for the land of $1 until the debt service is fully paid, at which time the State will transfer the land and building to York County for $1. In addition, the 3 district court buildings vacated when the new consolidated courthouse opens must be transferred at no cost to York County for its exclusive use.

LD 391	Resolve, To Establish the Study Committee To Develop a Disposition Plan for Future Surplus State Property in York County (Emergency)	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 7, 2019
LD 391 This resolve establishes the Study Committee To Develop a Disposition Plan for Future Surplus State Property in York County to study and plan the disposition of the 3 district courthouses in York County to be vacated when the courts are consolidated into one building and of associated surplus state property.

LD 416	An Act To Allow Eating Establishments To Permit Smoking Tobacco in Designated Outdoor Eating Areas	Status: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 16, 2019
LD 416 This bill allows an eating establishment to permit smoking tobacco in a designated outdoor eating area if no one under 21 years of age is allowed in the designated outdoor eating area.

LD 533	An Act To Eliminate the Statutory Duty To Retreat and Affirm the Right of Self-defense	Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, June 11, 2019
LD 533 This bill removes the requirements that a person retreat if it is safe to do so and if the person can comply with a demand that the person abstain from performing an act that the person is not obliged to perform. The bill also permits the use of deadly force to prevent death or serious bodily injury in self-defense, in defense of a 3rd person, in defense of a dwelling or to prevent the forcible commission of a kidnapping, a robbery or a gross sexual assault.

LD 741

An Act To Return Surplus Money to Maine Taxpayers

Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Public hearing held, April 1, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322

LD 741
This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to distribute the funds in the State treasury by:

1. Placing in the General Fund only the amount necessary to cover the outstanding obligations of the State required by law, such as for bond debt and payment of contracts and salaries;
2. After the transfer of funds required to meet the legal obligations of the State, distributing 75% of the remaining funds to Maine taxpayers on a pro rata basis, based on tax data for the 2018 tax year; and
3. After the transfer and the distributions, transferring the remaining 25% to the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the Maine Rainy Day Fund.

LD 859	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Fund Equipment for Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 859 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $40,000,000, will be used to provide funds to make capital improvements to and purchase equipment for career and technical education centers and regions for high school students.

LD 873	An Act To Clarify the Application of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax to Water Well Drilling Equipment	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Amended by Committee amendment H-442, Enacted, Signed into law June 20, 2019
LD 873 This bill sets the annual personal property tax on equipment for water well drilling owned by a licensed well driller at $2,500 for tax years beginning January 1, 2020 and thereafter. Amendment H-442 This amendment provides that water well drilling equipment attached to a self-propelled vehicle is not considered part of the motor vehicle for purposes of the motor vehicle excise tax. LD 873 Chaptered Law LD 873 Chaptered Law fiscal note

LD 911	An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation	Status: Referred to Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 911 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $95,000,000, will be used to provide funds for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands and the Land for Maine's Future Board.

LD 963	An Act To Exempt Overtime Pay from Individual Income Tax	Status: Referred to Taxation Committee, Dead, Non-concurrence, June 17, 2019
LD 963 This bill excludes from income tax overtime compensation if the employer is required by law to pay the overtime compensation to the employee. Amendment H-259 This amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section to fund costs of activities necessary to administer the tax change provided in the bill. LD 963 Amendment H-259 fiscal note

LD 965	An Act To Restrict Cell Phone Use by Students While in School	Status: Referred to Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, April 23, 2019
LD 965 This bill requires the Department of Education to adopt major substantive rules restricting the use of cellular telephones by students.

LD 1055	An Act To Reduce Fraud in the Redemption of Beverage Containers	Status: Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Dead, Joint rule 310.3, May 21, 2019
LD 1055 This bill amends the State's bottle redemption laws to authorize initiators of deposit subject to a commingling agreement to include in the agreement authorization to conduct audits of beverage containers presented by a dealer or local redemption center for pickup or payment of refund value and to take certain actions against the dealer or local redemption center in the case of a failed audit. The bill also provides for a grievance process whereby a dealer or local redemption center may file a grievance with the Department of Environmental Protection to challenge an action taken by an initiator of deposit in the case of a failed audit.

LD 1066	An Act To Address Municipal Conflicts of Interest	Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee, Dead, Concurrence in Ought Not to Pass, May 7, 2019
LD 1066 This bill minimizes conflicts of interest in municipal government operations. The bill precludes the municipal treasurer and tax collector, or town officer performing the duties of either, from simultaneously acting as the municipality's code enforcement officer. The bill requires the town manager to implement a training program for municipal officers and employees on the ethical standards applicable to and the performance risks associated with hiring professional consultants. The bill prohibits a person contracted to provide professional services to a municipality from having a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the business of the municipality.

LD 1207	An Act To Expand the 1998 Special Retirement Plan To Include Detectives in the Office of Investigations within the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Engrossed in both chambers as amended by Committee amendment H-497, Enacted in both chambers June 18, 2019, Governor's action pending, Governor placed on hold, July 2, 2019
LD 1207 This bill allows detectives in the employment of the office of investigations within the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles to elect to participate in the 1998 Special Plan of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. Under that plan, a person may retire at 55 years of age with 10 years of creditable service or may retire before 55 years of age with 25 years of creditable service and at a reduced benefit Amendment H-497 his amendment is the majority report of the committee. The amendment changes the deadline for the one-time election for detectives in the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles to participate in the 1998 Special Plan and establishes the effective date of their participation. This amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 1207 fiscal note LD 1207 Amendment H-497 fiscal note

LD 1208	An Act To Expand the 1998 Special Retirement Plan To Include Detectives in the Office of the Attorney General	Status: Referred to Labor and Housing Committee, Engrossed in both chambers as amended by Committee amendment H-498, Enacted in both chambers June 18, 2019, Governor's action pending, Governor placed on hold, July 2, 2019
LD 1208 This bill allows detectives in the Office of the Attorney General to elect to participate in the 1998 Special Plan of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. Under that plan, a person may retire at 55 years of age with 10 years of creditable service or may retire before 55 years of age with 25 years of creditable service and at a reduced benefit. Amendment H-498 This amendment is the majority report of the committee. The amendment changes the deadline for the one-time election for detectives in the Office of the Attorney General to participate in the 1998 Special Plan and establishes the effective date of their participation. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. LD 1208 fiscal note LD 1208 Amendment H-498 fiscal note

LD 1244	An Act To Authorize the Gambling Control Board To Accept an Application from the Passamaquoddy Tribe To Operate 50 Slot Machines in the Tribe's High-stakes Beano Facility	Status: Referred to Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Work session held, May 20, 2019, carried over to any regular or special session per Joint Order HP 1322
LD 1244 This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to accept an application from the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate 50 slot machines at a gambling facility in Washington County at which high-stakes beano is conducted by the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The bill raises the limit on the number of slot machines allowed in the State by 50 to accommodate the slot machines that may be operated by the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The bill requires deposit of 25% of net slot machine income in the General Fund and sets the initial application fee to operate the 50 slot machines at $10,000 and the renewal fee at $5,000. The Passamaquoddy Tribe is exempted from paying a $250,000 nonrefundable privilege fee and a $5,000,000 license fee. Slot machines operated by the Passamaquoddy Tribe would be subject to the oversight of the Gambling Control Board and subject to the same laws and rules as other slot machines operated in this State.

LD 1408	An Act To Allow Law Enforcement Officers To Wear Insignia on Their Uniforms To Indicate That They Are Veterans	Status: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Amended by Committee amendment S-115, Enacted, Signed into law June 6, 2019
LD 1408 This bill allows a law enforcement officer employed by the State, a county or a municipality to wear insignia on the law enforcement officer's uniform to indicate that the law enforcement officer is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States. It directs the Department of Public Safety to adopt routine technical rules to implement the change in law. Amendment S-115 This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment authorizes a law enforcement agency to allow a law enforcement officer who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and who is employed by the agency to wear insignia on the officer's uniform to indicate that the officer is a veteran. LD 1408 Chaptered Law LD 1408 Chaptered Law fiscal note

Organization	Score
Maine People's Alliance, Will of the Voters	0%
Maine People's Alliance, 2018	17%
Maine Conservation Voters, 2018	5 of 8, 1 Unexcused absences
Maine Conservation Voters, 2017	5 of 7, 1 Unexcused absences
AFL-CIO, 2017	40%
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, 2017	25%