An Act To Amend the Unemployment Compensation Law Regarding Denial of Benefits for Refusing To Accept Work
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §1193, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1983, c. 650, §1, is further amended to read:
In determining whether or not work is suitable for an individual after the first 12 consecutive weeks of unemployment, the deputy shall consider the degree of risk involved to his the individual's health, safety and morals, his the individual's physical fitness, his the individual's prior earnings, his the individual's length of unemployment and prospects for securing local work in his the individual's customary occupation and the distance of the available work from his the individual's residence. The individual's prior earnings shall may not be considered with respect to an offer of or referral to an otherwise suitable job which that pays wages equal to or exceeding the average weekly wage in the State of Maine.
(1) If the position offered is vacant due directly to a strike, lockout or other labor dispute;
(2) If the wages, hours or other conditions of work are substantially less favorable to the individual than those prevailing for similar work in the locality;
(3) If, as a condition of being employed, the individual would be required to join a company union or to resign from or refrain from joining any bona fide labor organization;
(4) If the position offered is the same one previously vacated by the claimant individual for good cause attributable to that employment or is the position which that the employee left for reasons attributable to that employment, but which that were found insufficient to relieve disqualification for benefits under subsection 1, paragraph A, provided that as long as, in either instance, the specific good cause or specific reasons for leaving have not been removed or otherwise changed; and
(5) If the position offered is on a shift, the greater part of which falls between the hours of midnight to 5 a.m., and is refused because of parental obligation, the need to care for an immediate family member, or the unavailability of a personal care attendant required to assist the unemployed individual who is a handicapped person.
summary
Current unemployment benefit law provides for the disqualification from receipt of unemployment compensation of an individual who refuses to accept an offer of suitable work or is unable to be located by a prior employer, among other reasons. This bill adds to that list an individual who forfeits, unreasonably, a license or other credential necessary for employment by a former employer.