Bill > LD797

This bill modifies unemployment compensation requirements by mandating that individuals actively seek work 3 times each week to remain eligible for benefits, removing previous provisions that allowed waivers from the Commissioner of Labor. The bill establishes 13 specific types of acceptable work search efforts, including submitting resumes, completing job applications, attending job fairs, participating in job search workshops, and developing career research materials. Claimants must now submit detailed weekly documentation of their work search efforts through an online portal or paper form by 5 p.m. each Friday, providing information about their job search activities, including employers contacted, dates of efforts, and contact information for verification. The Department of Labor will be required to verify work search documentation before paying benefits and will conduct random audits of at least 10% of submitted work search reports to ensure compliance. Additionally, the bill eliminates the previous provision that allowed individuals to receive unemployment compensation while temporarily unemployed, effectively tightening the eligibility requirements for receiving unemployment benefits. These changes aim to encourage more active job searching and reduce potential unemployment benefit misuse.

Labor and Employment

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=797&snum=132