1674

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 327

FOR the purpose of specifying which conditions constitute
valid circumstances for determining the length of an
individuals disqualification for unemployment insurance
benefits; requiring certain evidence in certain cases;
and providing to whom this Act applies.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 95A - Unemployment Insurance Law

Section 6(a)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 95A - Unemployment Insurance Law

6.

An individual is disqualified for benefits:

(a) If the Executive Director finds that the
individual's unemployment is due to his leaving work
voluntarily without good cause. Only a cause which is
directly attributable to, arising from, or connected with
the conditions of employment or actions of the employer may
be considered good cause. The individual's disqualification
shall be effective for the week in which the unemployment
began and shall continue (1) for not less than 4 nor more
than 9 weeks immediately thereafter, according to the
seriousness of valid circumstances as determined in each
case by the Executive Director or (2) until the individual
has become employed and has earnings therein equal to at
least ten times his weekly benefit amount. Leaving work to
become self-employed, to accompany or join one's spouse in a
new locality, or to attend an educational institution is
neither good cause nor a valid circumstance for voluntarily
leaving work. ONLY CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE DIRECTLY

ATTRIBUTABLE TO, ARISING FROM, OR CONNECTED WITH THE

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OR ACTIONS OF THE EMPLOYER MAY BE
CONSIDERED VALID CIRCUMSTANCES. ONLY A SUBSTANTIAL CAUSE
WHICH IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO, ARISING FROM, OR
CONNECTED WITH THE CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OR ACTIONS OF
THE EMPLOYER, OR ANOTHER CAUSE OF SUCH A NECESSITOUS OR
COMPELLING NATURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAD NO REASONABLE
ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN TO LEAVE THE EMPLOYMENT MAY BE
CONSIDERED A VALID CIRCUMSTANCE. IF THE INDIVIDUAL LEAVES
HIS EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF A CIRCUMSTANCE RELATING TO THE
HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ANOTHER PERSON WHO MUST BE CARED
FOR BY THE INDIVIDUAL, THE INDIVIDUAL MUST FURNISH A WRITTEN
STATEMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF THAT HEALTH
PROBLEM FROM A PHYSICIAN OR HOSPITAL.