EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0846*
SENATE BILL 846
K2 4lr3173
CF 4lr2660
By: Senator Klausmeier
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Department of Labor – Unemployment Insurance – Study on Actively 2
Seeking Work Requirements 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to conduct a study on the 4
actively seeking work requirement of the unemployment insurance system in the 5
State and other states to evaluate the effects of ghosting on actively seeking work 6
requirements; and generally relating to a study on actively seeking work 7
requirements for unemployment insurance benefits. 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That: 10
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 11
(2) “Actively seeking work requirements” means the requirement 12
established under § 8–903(a)(iii) of the Labor and Employment Article to maintain 13
eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. 14
(3) “Department” means the Maryland Department of Labor. 15
(4) “Ghost” means the failure of a claimant for unemployment insurance 16
benefits who is scheduled for a job interview with an employer to attend the interview or 17
maintain contact with the employer after the interview is scheduled. 18
(b) The Department shall conduct a study on the actively seeking work 19
requirements of the unemployment insurance system in the State and other states to 20
evaluate the effects of ghosting on actively seeking work requirements. 21
(c) The study shall: 22
(1) examine the actively seeking work requirements of other states to 23 2 SENATE BILL 846
determine: 1
(i) the ways in which the actively seeking work requirements of 2
other states are different from those in the State; and 3
(ii) how the actively seeking work requirements of other states are 4
verified to ensure a claimant remains eligible for unemployment insurance benefits; 5
(2) determine whether the Department, using existing resources, is able to 6
perform periodic verification of the information reported by claimants to satisfy the 7
claimant’s actively seeking work requirement; 8
(3) evaluate and explain why the online BEACON system for claimants 9
and employers does not or cannot allow an employer to input information about a claimant’s 10
actively seeking work requirement, including: 11
(i) confirmation that a claimant contacted an employer for work; 12
and 13
(ii) a report of ghosting; 14
(4) determine whether it is feasible to remove requirements for employers 15
to input certain information in the BEACON system, such as a claimant’s Social Security 16
number, for purposes of reporting incidents of ghosting; and 17
(5) examine any other factors relevant to reporting ghosting or verifying 18
whether a claimant meets the actively seeking work requirement. 19
(d) On or before December 1, 2024, the Department shall report its findings and 20
recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 21
Government Article. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 23
1, 2024. 24