Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, voluntary layoffs may ensure continued employment for others; and
Whereas, the present economy should allow for voluntary layoffs to occur immediately; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §1193, sub-§1, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1991, c. 560, §2, is amended to read:
A. For the week in which the claimant left regular employment voluntarily without good cause attributable to that employment. The disqualification continues until the claimant has earned 4 times the claimant's weekly benefit amount in employment by an employer. A claimant may not be disqualified under this paragraph if:
(1) The leaving was caused by the illness or disability of the claimant or an immediate family member and the claimant took all reasonable precautions to protect the claimant's employment status by promptly notifying the employer of the reasons for the absence and by promptly requesting reemployment when again able to resume employment;
(2) The leaving was necessary to accompany, follow or join the claimant's spouse in a new place of residence and the claimant can clearly show within 14 days of arrival at the new place of residence an attachment to the new labor market, and the claimant is in all respects able, available and actively seeking suitable work;
(3) The leaving was in good faith in order to accept new employment on a permanent full-time basis and the new employment did not materialize for reasons attributable to the new employing unit; or
(4) The leaving was necessary to protect the claimant from domestic abuse and the claimant made all reasonable efforts to preserve the employment.; or
(5) The claimant's employer announced in writing to employees that it planned to reduce the work force through a layoff or reduction in force and that employees may offer to be among those included in the layoff or reduction in force, at which time the claimant offered to be one of the employees included in the layoff or reduction in force and the claimant's employer accepted the claimant's offer, thereby ending the employment relationship.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.
Effective April 8, 2003.
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