An Act to Ensure that Maine's Unemployment System is Responsive to the Needs of Today's Workforce LR 1502(02)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0240
Committee Amendment CA_A_H482 (House)
Amends: 26 MRSA §1192

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f/" to H.P. 195, L.D. 240, Bill, "An 
Act to Ensure that Maine's Unemployment System is Responsive to 
the Needs of Today's Workforce" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting 
clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §1192, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 
1983, c. 816, Pt. A, §22, is amended to read: 
3. 
Is able and available for work. 
He The individual is 
able to work and is available for full-time work at 
a~s the 
individual's usual or customary trade, occupation, profession or 
business 
or in such other trade, 
occupation, 
profession or 
business 
for 
which 
a~s the 
individual's prior 
training 
or 
experience shows 
a~1R the individual to be fitted or qualified; 
and in addition to having complied with subsection 2 is a~lRse*f 
actively seeking work in accordance with the regulations of the 
commission; provided that no ineligibility may be found solely 
because the claimant is unable to accept employment on a shift, 
the greater part of which falls between the hours of midnight to 
a.m., 
and is unavailable 
for 
that employment 
because 
of 
parental obligation, the need to care for an immediate family 
member, 
or 
the unavailability of 
a 
personal 
care 
attendant 
required to assist the unemployed individual who is a handicapped 
person; and provided that an unemployed individual who is neither 
able nor available for work due to good cause as determined by 
the deputy saall-ee ~ eligible to receive prorated benefits for 
that portion of the week during which ae the individual was able 
and availablef ..... 
Page l-LRI502(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ 
~~, 
:~;.. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. fi .. to H.P. 195, L.D. 240 
A. 
Notwithstanding this subsection. beginning January 1, 
2004. an individual who is not available for full-time work 
as required in this subsection is not disqualified from 
receiving benefits if: 
(1) 
The individual worked less than full time for a 
majority of the weeks during that individual's base 
period and the individual is able and available for and 
actively seeking part-time work for at least the number 
of hours in a 
week 
comparable to those customarily 
worked in part-time employment during that individual's 
base period; or 
(2) 
The individual worked full time for a majority of 
the weeks during that individual's base period. but is 
able 
and 
available 
for 
and 
actively 
seeking 
only 
part-time work because of the illness or disability of 
an immediate family member or because of limitations 
necessary 
for 
the 
safety 
or 
protection 
of 
the 
individual or individual's immediate family member. 
Sec. 
2. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
The 
following 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Unemployment Compensation Benefit 
Account 
0245 
Initiative: 
Allocates funds to provide for the additional cost 
of providing unemployment benefits to persons who are unavailable 
for full-time work under certain circumstances. 
Employment Security Trust Fund 
All Other 
Employment Security Trust 
Fund Total 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
circumstances 
under 
which 
a 
person 
full-time work 
can continue to be 
benefits. 
2003-04 
$2,280,000 
$2,280,000 
2004-05 
$2,320,000 
$2,320,000' 
It provides the specific 
who 
is 
unavailable 
for 
eligible for 
unemployment 
A person 
who 
has 
a 
history of part-time 
work 
is not 
disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits as long as that 
person continues to be available to work for a number of hours 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
,. . 
'" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. f}.: to H.P. 195, L.D. 240 
comparable to the number worked during part-time weeks in the 
base period. 
A person who 
is unavailable 
to 
work 
full-time is not 
disqualified from receiving benefits if the person's lack of 
availability is the result of 
illness or disability of 
an 
immediate family member or the lack of availability is necessary 
for the safety or protection of the individual or a member of the 
individual's immediate family. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 05/19/03 ;:rbYac:.. 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD240 
An Act to Ensure that Maine's Unemployment System is Responsive to 
the Needs of Today's Workforce 
LR 1502(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" " 
Committee: Labor 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
• 
2003-04 
2004-05 
Projections 
2005-06 
Projections 
2006-07 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Employment Security Trust Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$2,280,000 
$2,320,000 
$2,460,000 
$2,560,00" 
The Department of Labor estimates this bill will increase benefit costs by $2,280,000 in fiscal year 2003-04 and 
$2,320,000 in fiscal year 2004-05. This bill includes Other Fund allocations to the Unemployment Compensation 
Benefit Account within the Department of Labor for the additional cost of providing unemployment benefits to 
persons who are not available for full-time work under certain circumstances. 
The State, with a few exceptions, is a direct reimbursement employer and, as such, would experience some increase in 
unemployment compensation costs if these rules are implemented. However, there are relatively few part time state 
employees and the costs, when spread over all agencies, should be able to be absorbed. 
LR1502(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1