Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor To Examine Policy and Programmatic Alternatives for the Establishment of a Wage Loss Insurance System To Provide Wage Security in the Event of Loss of Earnings
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1586
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: MARRACHE

Legislative Document 
No. 1586 
S.P.557 
March 20, 2007 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor To Examine Policy and 
Programmatic Alternatives for the Establishment of a Wage Loss 
Insurance System To Provide Wage Security in the Event of Loss of 
Earnings 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MARRACHE of Kennebec. 
Printed lin ft'I:ydeJ paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Sec. 1. Study to examine policy and programmatic alternatives for the 
establishment of a wage loss insurance system. Resolved: That the Department 
of Labor, in consultation with interested parties, shall study laws, policies and programs, 
including those in other jurisdictions, relating to the establishment of a wage loss 
insurance system. The study must include an examination of the following issues and 
any others the department or im interested party determines to be appropriate: 
1. 
Data and information on Maine citizens who experience job losses or loss of 
wages and receive no unemployment benefits under the State's unemployment 
compensation and unemployment insurance laws; 
2. 
The feasibility of creating a program parallel or supplementary to the 
unemployment insurance system that could extend benefits for a period of up to 2 years 
to those who experience loss of wages and do not receive unemployment benefits, 
including possible funding sources or mechanisms to provide such benefits and to pay for 
administrative costs; and 
3. Special income stability issues facing nonprofit workers and others ineligible for 
inclusion in the unemployment insurance system; and be it further. 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Labor, in consultation with 
interested parties, shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor by 
January 1, 2008 regarding the study under section 1. The report must include findings, 
recommendations and any proposed implementing legislation. 
The Joint Standing 
Committee on Labor may submit legislation relating to the subject matter of the study to 
the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Funding. Resolved: That the Department of Labor shall seek outside 
funds from the Federal Government, nonprofit foundations or other appropriate public or 
private sources to fund the costs ofthe study. Contributions to support the study may not 
be accepted from any party having a pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of 
the matters being studied. To the extent that outside contributions are inadequate to pay 
for all costs of the study, the Department of Labor shall make every effort to complete the 
study and report within existing budgeted resources. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires the Department of Labor to conduct a study of the laws, policies 
and programs, including those in other jurisdictions, relating to the establishment of a 
wage loss insurance system. 
The department shall call upon interested parties in 
conducting its study and shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor 
with its findings, recommendations and any proposed implementing legislation.