Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §51, sub-§1, §§A, B and C, as amended by PL 1991, c. 93, §2, are further amended to read:

A. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee serves as an ex officio voting member. The Governor shall appoint the other members of the commission, which consists of not more than 12 members, including:

(1) Three members with expertise and professional qualifications in the field of occupational safety and health;

(2) Two members representing workers and 2 members representing private employers, all of whom must be knowledgeable in the area of workplace safety; and

(3) Other members the Governor considers necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.

B. Initial Except for the Commissioner of Labor, initial appointments are made for terms of one, 2, 3 and 4 years such that the terms of approximately 1/4 of the members expire in each year. All subsequent appointments are for terms of 4 years. Each member shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified.

C. The Governor shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of the commission and the Commissioner of Labor shall serve as vice-chair. Appointments as chair and vice-chair are for 2 years. The commission shall actively seek information and involvement from organized labor, the professional safety community, the various state and federal agencies concerned with safety and interested private citizens, groups and organizations.

SUMMARY

This bill changes the membership of the Commission on Safety and Health in the Maine Workplace to:

1. Provide for a term of office for the commission's chair and vice-chair;

2. Provide for the appointment of a vice-chair from the membership; and