An Act To Amend the Unemployment Compensation Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1832
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: DUPREY, STRIMLING, BURNS, CLARK, DRISCOLL, HASKELL, ROBINSON, THOMAS, TUTTLE, DOW
Amends: 26 MRSA §1191

Legislative Document 
No. 1832 
H.P.1279 
House of Representatives, April 5, 2007 
An Act To Amend the Unemployment Compensation Laws 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative DUPREY of Hampden. 
Cosponsored by Senator STRIMLING of Cumberland and 
17/~/J?~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BURNS of Berwick, CLARK of Millinocket, DRISCOLL of Westbrook, 
HASKELL of Portland, ROBINSON of Raymond, THOMAS of Ripley, TUTTLE of Sanford, 
Senator: DOW of Lincoln. 
Printed on re..:yc led pap:-r 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §1191, sub-§l1 is enacted to read: 
11. Bonus for quickly finding work. An individual who is receiving benefits 
pursuant to this section and who finds work no later than 3 weeks after making an initial 
claim for benefits must receive a bonus equal to 2 weeks of benefits, payable as a lump 
sum. An individual who is receiving benefits pursuant to this section and who finds work 
no later than 6 weeks after making an initial claim for benefits must receive a bonus equal 
to one week of benefits. A bonus paid pursuant to this subsection counts toward the limit 
on the maximum amount of benefits established in subsection 4. 
. Sec. 2. 26 MRSA § 1192, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2005, c. 454, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
3. Is able and available for work. The individual is able to work and is available 
for full-time work at the individual's usual or customary trade, occupation, profession or 
business or in such other trade, occupation, profession or business for which the 
individual's prior training or experience shows the individual to be fitted or qual ified; and 
in addition to having complied with subsection 2 is actively seeking work in accordance 
with the regulations of the commission and has provided proof of having contacted a 
minimum of 5 employers in that week; 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 5 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 is eligible to 
receive prorated benefits for that portion of the week during which the individual was 
able and available. 
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. 
This paragraph does not apply to a person who applies for benefits after September 
30, 2008. This paragraph continues to apply to a person who applies for benefits on 
or before September 30, 2008 until that person has exhausted benefits payable under 
that application. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that an individual who is receiving unemployment benefits and 
who finds work no later than 3 weeks after making an initial claim for benefits must 
receive a bonus equal to 2 weeks of benefits, payable as a lump sum. An individual who 
is receiving benefits and who finds work no later than 6 weeks after making an initial 
claim for benefits must receive a bonus equal to one week of benefits. 
The bill requires that an individual provide proof of having contacted a minimum of 5 
employers in a week in order to be eligible to receive unemployment compensation for 
that week.