121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 880
		An Act to Eliminate the Social Security Offset for Unemployment Benefits
		LR 0531(04)
		Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
		Committee: Labor
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - All Funds
Future biennium revenue increase - Other Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The Department of Labor estimates this bill will increase benefits paid from the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund beginning in fiscal year 2004-05.  The amount can not be determined at this time.  However, estimates developed by the Department of Labor using 2002 data indicate the increase in  benefit costs to be approximately $2,300,000.  The cost increase in this bill would cause the anticipated changes in the unemployment contributions schedule to occur one year earlier than the projections based on the Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission Forecast of February 2003. As a result, the $18,200,000 increase in contributions due to the schedule increasing from C to D would occur in rate year 2006 versus 2007 and the contribution schedule rate decrease from D to C, which would reduce contributions by $6,400,000, would occur in rate year 2007 versus 2008.    The State and all other direct reimbursement employers will be required to repay the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund for the additional benefit payments.