Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                    635

CHAPTER 441
(House Bill 205)

AN ACT to repeal Sections 5 (a) and (ca) of Article 95A of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1951 Edition and 1956 Supplement),
title "Unemployment Insurance Law", sub-title "Benefits", and to
add Section 5 (b 1) (B) to said Article and sub-title of the Code
(1951 Edition), to follow immediately after Section 5 (b) (A)
thereof and to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 4 (c)
and (c), and 5 (b) and (d) of said Article and sub-title of the
Code (1951 Edition), revising certain conditions of eligibility for
benefits and disqualifications for benefits under the unemployment
insurance laws.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 5 (a) and (ca) of Article 95A of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1951 Edition and 1956 Supplement), title "Unemploy-
ment Insurance Law", sub-title "Benefits", be and they are hereby
repealed, and that Section 5 (b 1) (B), be and it is hereby added to
said Article and sub-title of the Code (1951 Edition), to follow imme-
diately after Section 5 (b) (A) thereof, and that Section 4 (c) and
(c), and 5 (b) and (d) of said Article and sub-title of the Code (1951
Edition), be and they are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, all to read as follows:

4. (c) He is able to work, and is available for work; provided no
claimant shall be considered ineligible in any week of unemployment
for failure to comply with the provisions of this sub-section if such
failure is due to an illness or disability which occurs after he has
registered for work and no work which would have been considered
suitable at the time of his initial registration has been offered after
the beginning of such illness or disability. As used in this sub-section,
the term "available for work" shall mean, among other things, that
a claimant is actively seeking work. In determining whether or not
the claimant has actively sought work, the Board shall consider
whether the efforts he has made to obtain work have been reasonable
and are such efforts as an unemployed individual is expected to make
if he is honestly looking for work. The extent of the effort required
shall depend upon labor market conditions in the claimant's area.

Provided, that when an employer closes its entire plant or any por-
tion of the plant for a vacation or inventory or other purpose causing
unemployment for a certain and definable period not exceeding three
weeks in any benefit year, the Board is authorized to exempt the em-
ployees who thereby become unemployed from producing evidence
required under this section of the law, if it is found by the Board that
the circumstances and labor market conditions justify such exemp-
tions; however, such employees must comply with the provisions of
Section 4 (a) and must be able to work and otherwise available for
work. Exemption may be granted only with regard to a specific plant
shut-down, and shall not be construed to exempt any claimant from

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.