MD
Maryland House Bill HB998

Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB998 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 285
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 285
5-(House Bill 998)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ *hb0998*
89
9-Maryland Department of Labor – Unemployment Insurance – Study on Actively
10-Seeking Work Requirement s
10+HOUSE BILL 998
11+K2 4lr2660
12+ CF SB 846
13+By: Delegates Adams and Fisher
14+Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2024
15+Assigned to: Economic Matters
16+Committee Report: Favorable
17+House action: Adopted
18+Read second time: March 1, 2024
1119
12-FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to conduct a study on the
13-actively seeking work requirement of the unemployment insurance system in the
14-State and other states to evaluate the effects of ghosting on actively seeking work
15-requirements; and generally relating to a study on actively seeking work
16-requirements for unemployment insurance benefits.
20+CHAPTER ______
1721
18- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
19-That:
22+AN ACT concerning 1
2023
21- (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
24+Maryland Department of Labor – Unemployment Insurance – Study on Actively 2
25+Seeking Work Requirement s 3
2226
23- (2) “Actively seeking work requirements” means the requirement
24-established under § 8–903(a)(iii) of the Labor and Employment Article to maintain
25-eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits.
27+FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to conduct a study on the 4
28+actively seeking work requirement of the unemployment insurance system in the 5
29+State and other states to evaluate the effects of ghosting on actively seeking work 6
30+requirements; and generally relating to a study on actively seeking work 7
31+requirements for unemployment insurance benefits. 8
2632
27- (3) “Department” means the Maryland Department of Labor.
33+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
34+That: 10
2835
29- (4) “Ghost” means the failure of a claimant for unemployment insurance
30-benefits who is scheduled for a job interview with an employer to attend the interview or
31-maintain contact with the employer after the interview is scheduled.
36+ (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 11
3237
33- (b) The Department shall conduct a study on the actively seeking work
34-requirements of the unemployment insurance system in the State and other states to
35-evaluate the effects of ghosting on actively seeking work requirements.
38+ (2) “Actively seeking work requirements” means the requirement 12
39+established under § 8–903(a)(iii) of the Labor and Employment Article to maintain 13
40+eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. 14
3641
37- (c) The study shall:
42+ (3) “Department” means the Maryland Department of Labor. 15
3843
39- (1) examine the actively seeking work requirements of other states to
40-determine:
44+ (4) “Ghost” means the failure of a claimant for unemployment insurance 16
45+benefits who is scheduled for a job interview with an employer to attend the interview or 17
46+maintain contact with the employer after the interview is scheduled. 18
47+ 2 HOUSE BILL 998
4148
42- (i) the ways in which the actively seeking work requirements of
43-other states are different from those in the State; and
4449
45- (ii) how the actively seeking work requirements of other states are
46-verified to ensure a claimant remains eligible for unemployment insurance benefits;
47- Ch. 285 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
50+ (b) The Department shall conduct a study on the actively seeking work 1
51+requirements of the unemployment insurance system in the State and other states to 2
52+evaluate the effects of ghosting on actively seeking work requirements. 3
4853
49-– 2 –
50- (2) determine whether the Department, using existing resources, is able to
51-perform periodic verification of the information reported by claimants to satisfy the
52-claimant’s actively seeking work requirement;
54+ (c) The study shall: 4
5355
54- (3) evaluate and explain why the online BEACON system for claimants
55-and employers does not or cannot allow an employer to input information about a claimant’s
56-actively seeking work requirement, including:
56+ (1) examine the actively seeking work requirements of other states to 5
57+determine: 6
5758
58- (i) confirmation that a claimant contacted an employer for work;
59-and
59+ (i) the ways in which the actively seeking work requirements of 7
60+other states are different from those in the State; and 8
6061
61- (ii) a report of ghosting;
62+ (ii) how the actively seeking work requirements of other states are 9
63+verified to ensure a claimant remains eligible for unemployment insurance benefits; 10
6264
63- (4) determine whether it is feasible to remove requirements for employers
64-to input certain information in the BEACON system, such as a claimant’s Social Security
65-number, for purposes of reporting incidents of ghosting; and
65+ (2) determine whether the Department, using existing resources, is able to 11
66+perform periodic verification of the information reported by claimants to satisfy the 12
67+claimant’s actively seeking work requirement; 13
6668
67- (5) examine any other factors relevant to reporting ghosting or verifying
68-whether a claimant meets the actively seeking work requirement.
69+ (3) evaluate and explain why the online BEACON system for claimants 14
70+and employers does not or cannot allow an employer to input information about a claimant’s 15
71+actively seeking work requirement, including: 16
6972
70- (d) On or before December 1, 2024, the Department shall report its findings and
71-recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State
72-Government Article.
73+ (i) confirmation that a claimant contacted an employer for work; 17
74+and 18
7375
74- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
75-1, 2024.
76+ (ii) a report of ghosting; 19
7677
77-Approved by the Governor, April 25, 2024.
78+ (4) determine whether it is feasible to remove requirements for employers 20
79+to input certain information in the BEACON system, such as a claimant’s Social Security 21
80+number, for purposes of reporting incidents of ghosting; and 22
81+
82+ (5) examine any other factors relevant to reporting ghosting or verifying 23
83+whether a claimant meets the actively seeking work requirement. 24
84+
85+ (d) On or before December 1, 2024, the Department shall report its findings and 25
86+recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 26
87+Government Article. 27
88+
89+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 28
90+1, 2024. 29
91+