Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §26-A is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 26-A

PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR DISPLACED WORKERS

§2061.__Program created

The Peer Support Program for Displaced Workers is created within the department to provide advocacy and information for workers displaced by significant layoffs.__The program may initiate one or more projects to assist employees, as provided in this chapter.

§2062.__Peer Support Projects

1.__Initiation of project.__When 100 or more employees of a single employer are laid off, the department shall initiate a peer support project to assist the affected employees.__The department may initiate a project when 50 or more employees are laid off if the bureau determines that a peer support project is warranted, after considering the particular needs of the affected workforce and the affected communities.

2.__Employment and role of peer support workers.__For each project, the department shall employ one or more peer support workers who must be displaced nonmanagerial employees from the affected workforce.__The department shall attempt in all cases to hire one peer support worker for each 50 affected employees and to hire at least 2 peer support workers for each project.__A peer support worker shall serve as a worker advocate and an information source connecting the affected workers and the State's workforce development programs.__The peer support worker shall use the resources of local__employment assistance programs as well as state programs. The department shall collaborate with employee representatives in hiring and overseeing peer support workers.__The department shall ensure that peer support workers have an opportunity to receive training and to work as a team even if they are geographically dispersed.

3.__Duration of project.__The department shall determine the duration of each project, taking into consideration the size, scope and nature of the layoff and the period of time over which the layoffs occur.