Maine pension forfeiture bill signed
AUGUSTA, Maine—A bill Maine allowing courts to order the forfeiture of retirement benefits for a state employee convicted of a crime has been signed into law by Gov. Paul LePage.
The bill,which was signed Friday, brings Maine in line with more than 15 other states that have pension forfeiture laws on their books.
What became known as the "Violette bill" surfaced amid a scandal in which former Maine Turnpike Executive Director Paul Violette was sent to jail for theft of public funds.
The new law won't apply in retroactively Violette's case, but the former turnpike official has agreed to pay restitution based partially on his retirement income.
The new law will allow the court to award the pension to the spouse, dependent or former spouse of the convicted employee.
