AUGUSTA, Maine - Some part-time employees and recent hires would have more recourse in cases of employer wrongdoing if the Maine Legislature approves of a new proposal.

The bill, proposed by Democratic Rep. Mike Sylvester of Portland, would change the state's definition of a "public employee'' to include people who have been employed less than six months.

Sylvester said the point of the bill is to ensure that state and other public sector employers have "the same, predictable dispute resolution for new employees as they do for their non-probationary employees.''