An Act To Assist Maine Workers and Businesses in Succeeding in a Changing Economy
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §1043, sub-§5, as corrected by RR 1991, c. 1, §35, is amended to read:
(1) Until the person has exhausted benefits for which that person is eligible under any unemployment insurance benefit program funded in whole or in part by the State Government or Federal Government; or
(2) Who is eligible for or who has exhausted, after the effective date of this paragraph, trade adjustment allowances as provided by the United States Trade Act of 1974, Title II, Chapter 2, Public Law 93-617, United States Code, Title 19, Section 2291, et seq., and any amendments or additions thereto, or a similar successor provision of that Act, except that any individual who was eligible for and received less than 26 weeks of benefits under the United States Trade Act may receive benefits for the number of weeks by which their benefits under that Act are less than 26 weeks ; or .
(3) For a subsequent enrollment in any training program after his initial enrollment, following the effective date of this paragraph, and final termination of a training program approved under section 1192, subsection 6, 6-A or 6-B.
In the case of a combined-wage claim pursuant to the arrangement approved by the secretary in accordance with section 1082, subsection 12, the benefit year shall be is that applicable under the unemployment compensation law of the paying state.
Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §1191, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1987, c. 570, §2, is further amended to read:
(1) Benefits paid to an individual under this paragraph shall may not be charged against the experience rating record of any employer, but shall must be charged to the General Fund.
(2) No benefits may be paid under this paragraph to any person:
(b) Until the person has exhausted benefits for which he the person is eligible under any unemployment insurance benefit program funded in whole or in part by the State Government or Federal Government; or
(c) Who is eligible for or who has exhausted, after the effective date of this paragraph, trade adjustment allowances as provided by the United States Trade Act of 1974, Title II, Chapter 2, Public Law 93-617, United States Code, Title 19, Section 2291, et seq., and any amendments or additions thereto, or a similar successor provision of that Act, except that any individual who was eligible for and received less than 26 weeks of benefits under the United States Trade Act may receive benefits for the number of weeks by which their benefits under that Act are less than 26 weeks ; or .
(d) For a subsequent enrollment in any training program after his initial enrollment, following the effective date of this paragraph, and final termination of a training program approved under section 1192, subsection 6, 6-A or 6-B.
Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §1192, sub-§6-D, as amended by PL 1995, c. 665, Pt. DD, §1 and affected by §12, is further amended to read:
Sec. 4. 26 MRSA §1196, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 591, §5, is amended to read:
(1) Has been terminated or laid off from employment as a result of a reduction of operations at the individual's place of employment or who has received a notice of termination or layoff from employment;
(2) Is eligible for or has exhausted his entitlement to unemployment compensation; and
(3) Is unlikely to return to his previous industry or occupation;
Sec. 5. Review; report. The Commissioner of Labor shall review the unemployment insurance program established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, chapter 13 to determine factors that contribute to the State's low recipiency rate relative to other states as determined by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Workforce Security, Division of Fiscal and Actuarial Services. For purposes of this section, "recipiency rate" means the number of insured unemployed persons in regular unemployment insurance programs as a percent of the total unemployed persons. The commissioner shall report findings, including any recommendations to improve the unemployment insurance recipiency rate, to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor by January 15, 2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Labor is authorized to introduce any legislation in response to this report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.
summary
This bill amends the definition of "dislocated worker" used to establish eligibility for extended unemployment benefits for workers in an approved training program. It extends coverage beyond those laid off as a result of a plant closing to those who have been terminated or laid off as a result of a reduction in operations at their place of employment. The bill removes the provision making individuals who previously completed an approved training program ineligible for the extended unemployment benefit program for dislocated workers. It also updates cross-references to approved training programs to reflect current additions to this list. Finally, it directs the Commissioner of Labor to examine the State's unemployment insurance program to determine why the State's percent of unemployed workers receiving unemployment benefits appears low relative to other states.