AUGUSTA — A bill that would prohibit state officials from hiring family members got a public hearing Monday before the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee.

Rep. Cynthia Dill, D-Cape Elizabeth, is the sponsor of L.D. 840, which was prompted by Gov. Paul LePage’s decision in December to hire his adult daughter Lauren to work in his office.

Dill said Monday that while that’s why she submitted the legislation, this bill would not affect anyone hired prior to October 1, 2011.

“This bill essentially would align Maine state policy with the federal government and about 20 other states,” she said.

The bill prohibits the governor, Legislature and constitutional officers from hiring family or household members. It states that an employee cannot supervise a family or household member, which includes spouse, domestic partner, parent, natural or legally adopted child, stepchild, sibling, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

No one spoke in favor or against Dill’s bill at the public hearing. The committee is scheduled to vote on the bill Friday.

Dill is running for the state Senate District 7 seat that was recently vacated when Sen. Larry Bliss, D-South Portland, moved to California. She faces Republican Louis Maietta Jr. in a May 10 election.

 

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