An Act Regarding Unemployment Compensation for Workers Involved in Certain Seasonal Occupations
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0962
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: JACKSON, HERBIG, BELLOWS, CHIPMAN, LANGLEY, MIRAMANT, VOLK, FECTEAU, MARTIN, SYLVESTER
Amends: 26 MRSA §1043, 26 MRSA §1192

Legislative Document
No. 962
S.P. 318
In Senate, March 9, 2017
An Act Regarding Unemployment Compensation for Workers 
Involved in Certain Seasonal Occupations
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative HERBIG of Belfast and
Senators: BELLOWS of Kennebec, CHIPMAN of Cumberland, LANGLEY of Hancock, 
MIRAMANT of Knox, VOLK of Cumberland, Representatives: FECTEAU of Biddeford, 
MARTIN of Eagle Lake, SYLVESTER of Portland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §1043, sub-§6-B is enacted to read: 
6-B.  Construction industry.  "Construction industry" means that industry that is 
composed of employees and employers engaged in construction, reconstruction, 
demolition, repair, improvement, enlargement or moving of buildings, roads, highways, 
bridges, streets, alleys, sewers, ditches, sewage disposal plants, waterworks, airports and 
all other structures or works whether private or public. 
Sec. 2.  26 MRSA §1192, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 314, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
2.  Has registered for work.  The individual has registered for work at, and 
continued to report at, an employment office in accordance with rules the commission 
adopts, except that the commission may, by rule, waive or alter either or both of the 
requirements of this subsection as to individuals attached to regular jobs and as to such 
other types of cases or situations with respect to which the commission finds that 
compliance with the requirements would be oppressive, or would be inconsistent with the 
purposes of this chapter.  A rule under this subsection may not conflict with section 1191, 
subsection 1. 
The individual must actively seek work each week in which a claim for benefits is filed 
unless the individual is participating in approved training under subsection 6 or work 
search has been waived in accordance with rules adopted by the commission and provide 
evidence of work search efforts in a manner and form as prescribed by the Department of 
Labor.  An individual who works in the construction industry, has worked for at least 20 
weeks in the 12 months prior to making a claim for benefits pursuant to subsection 1 and 
has a date to return to work for a previous employer is not required to engage in work 
search efforts.  An individual who works in the logging industry is not required to engage 
in work search efforts from April 1st to June 1st.  Failure to provide required work search 
documentation results in a denial of benefits in accordance with section 1194, subsection 
for the week or weeks for which no documentation was provided unless the department 
determines there is good cause for the individual's failure to comply with this 
requirement; 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the unemployment compensation laws to provide that an individual 
who works in the construction industry, has worked for at least 20 weeks in the 12 
months prior to making a claim for benefits and has a date to return to work for a 
previous employer is not required to engage in work search efforts.  It also provides that 
an individual who works in the logging industry is not required to engage in work search 
efforts from April 1st to June 1st.