Resolve, To Provide Health Insurance to Unemployed Workers
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0797
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: DAGGETT, HUTTON, HATCH, LEMONT, TREAT, COLWELL, KANE, PATRICK

Legislative Document 
S.P.276 
No. 797 
In Senate, February 20, 2003 
Resolve, To Provide Health Insurance to Unemployed Workers 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by President DAGGETT of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative HUTTON of Bowdoinham and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: HATCH of Somerset, LEMONT of York, TREAT of Kennebec, Representati ves: 
Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner, KANE of Saco, PATRICK of Rumford. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, Act:; 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; 
and 
until 
and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, thousands of unemployed workers in the State are 
struggling to provide the necessities of life for themselves and 
their families; and 
Whereas, given the high cost of health insurance, it is 
particularly 
difficult 
for 
unemployed 
workers 
to 
pay 
for 
continued health insurance coverage for themselves and family 
members; and 
Whereas, the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act 
of 2002, Public Law 107-210 allows states to apply for grants to 
help eligible unemployed workers pay for the costs of continued 
health insurance coverage; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Immediate application for grant. Resolved: 
That the 
Departm,E;!.nt 
of Labor shall expeditiously apply for 
a 
national 
emergency grant under Section 203 of the federal Trade Adjustment 
Assistance Reform Act of 2002, Public Law 107 -210 and use the 
grant funds to provide health insurance coverage for eligible 
unemployed 
workers 
as 
permitted 
under 
the 
Trade 
Adjustment 
Assistance Reform Act of 2002; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Ongoing assistance to unemployed workers. Resolved: 
Tha t 
the Department of Labor shall develop options for establishing an 
ongoing program to provide health insurance for all unemployed 
workers 
and 
shall 
submit 
a 
report 
on 
the 
options 
to 
the 
Legislature not later than January 1, 2004. 
The Joint Standing 
Committee on Labor is authorized to report out legislation to the 
of the report. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, Public 
Law 107-210 provides tax credits for unemployed persons who pay 
for certain types of health insurance coverage, such as COBRA 
continuation coverage. 
The Act also allows states to apply for 
national emergency grants under the federal Workforce Investment 
Act to provide funds to eligible unemployed persons to pay for 
health insurance coverage before the tax credits become available. 
This bill directs the Department of Labor to apply to the 
federal government for 
a 
national emergency grant to provide 
health 
insurance 
for 
eligible 
unemployed 
workers. 
It 
also 
requires the Department of Labor to review options for providing 
health 
insurance 
to 
other 
unemployed 
workers 
and 
to 
report 
recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor. 
The 
commi ttee is authorized to report out legislation to the Second 
Regular Session of the 121st Legislature.