Maine lawmakers must attend more anti-harassment training

AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers must now attend annual anti-harassment training in person and can no longer simply sign a form to fulfill the requirement.

The House voted 120-24 Tuesday to support the change. The 35-member Senate voted 32-0 last week in favor of it.

Currently, such training is offered every other year.

Lawmakers can miss anti-harassment training by signing a form outlining the Legislature’s sexual harassment policy. Nearly all of Maine’s lawmakers attended the most recent training, which occurs at the beginning of each two-year term.

Over the last decade, the Maine Legislature has received two complaints of sexual misconduct or harassment against legislators, records obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request show. Both complaints were against House lawmakers.