Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §1718 is enacted to read:

§1718.__Livable wage

The payment of a livable wage to health care workers is governed by this section.

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Employ" has the same meaning as in Title 26, section 663, subsection 2.

B.__"Employee" has the same meaning as in Title 26, section 663, subsection 3.

C.__"Health care" has the same meaning as in section 1711- C, subsection 1, paragraph C.

D.__"Health care facility" has the same meaning as in section 1711-C, subsection 1, paragraph D.

E.__"Health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in section 1711-C, subsection 1, paragraph F.

F.__"Livable wage" means the wage, stated as hourly income, necessary for an employee to earn the income necessary for financial independence of the employee's household unit, as determined pursuant to subsection 3.

2.__Livable wage requirement.__Beginning January 1, 2004, a health care facility or health care practitioner that receives state funds for the provision of health care to patients and that employs an employee in the provision of health care to patients shall pay to the employee a livable wage.

3.__Calculation of livable wage.__The Executive Department, State Planning Office shall calculate and publish a listing by county of a livable wage for an employee living in that county.__The calculation must be based on the basic needs budget prepared pursuant to Title 5, section 3305, subsection 1, paragraph P and must state the livable wage for financial independence for household units of different size.

Sec. 5. Resolve 1997, c. 36, as amended by Resolve 1999, c. 62, §§1 and 2, is repealed.