Merit Institute Merit

The Maine Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (ME-ACSA)

Maine state companion to ACSA. Extends licensure recognition under 32 MRSA, the Maine Department of Education / Community College System, the State Workforce Board, and 36 MRSA credits, with labor-protective worker provisions.

THE MAINE WORKER-MERIT CREDENTIALING ACT (ME-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. Maine Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing / Education and Cultural Affairs / Taxation.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Maine Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (ME-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Maine occupational licensure operates under 32 MRSA; that the Maine Community College System operates under 20-A MRSA Chapter 431; that the State Workforce Board operates under 26 MRSA Chapter 25; that 36 MRSA authorizes tax credits; and that 26 MRSA provides labor protections. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MAINE LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “Maine Recognized Merit Credential” or “MERMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the President of the Maine Community College System in coordination with the State Workforce Board under Sec. 201.
  2. (b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
  3. (c) “Covered State licensing authority” means a board under 32 MRSA.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Maine Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • 32 MRSA (licensing).
  • 20-A MRSA Chapter 431 (MCCS).
  • 26 MRSA Chapter 25 (Workforce Board).
  • 36 MRSA (taxation).
  • 26 MRSA (labor).

TITLE II — MAINE RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

  1. (a) The Maine Community College System, in coordination with the State Workforce Board, shall maintain a Maine Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“MERMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

  1. (a) The Bureau of Human Resources, acting under 5 MRSA Chapter 71 (civil service), shall apply classifications so that a MERMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Maine statute.

TITLE III — WORKFORCE-TRAINING TAX CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 301. Skills-Based Hiring Tax Credit

  1. (a) A new credit is added to 36 MRSA equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a Maine-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is a MERMC or Federal FRAC.
  2. (b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with 26 MRSA (wages, labor) including 26 MRSA §1308 (prevailing wage).
  3. (c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
  4. (d) Maine Revenue Services administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

  1. (a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting MERMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience, subject to public health and safety requirements.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

  1. (a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect 90 days after adjournment sine die, except that Sec. 301 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other Maine bills: ME-MEWRA, ME-GT&P, ME-AI-Workforce.