MARYLAND MANUAL 45

Employment Security Board
The Department of Employment Security, formerly known as the
Unemployment Compensation Board, was established in 1937. The
administration of the Department is vested in a board of three mem-
bers appointed for terms of six years (Code 1947 Supp. Art. 95A,
sees. 10-11). The Board is authorized to enact such general and special
rules as are necessary for the formulation of the general policy of the
Department in administering the Unemployment Compensation Law.
The Board also hears and determines appeals from the decisions of
the Referees and Special Examiners arising from disputed claims for
unemployment compensation.

The Advisory Council

The Unemployment Compensation Law permits the Board to estab-
lish an Advisory Council consisting of an equal number of representa-
tives from the public, the employer and the employee. The Advisory
Council meets with the Board for the purpose of aiding it to formu-
late policies and for discussing problems related to the administration
of the Law to insure impartiality in the solution of such problems
(Code 1947 Supp. Art. 96A, sec. lie).

Unemployment Compensation Division

This Division of the Department in accordance with the policy set
by the Board administers the payment of Unemployment Compensa-
tion benefits and the collection of the contributions therefor. Contribu-
tions are collected from employers covered under the Unemployment
Compensation Law and weekly benefits are made to eligible individu-
als, that is, those who have accumulated certain wage credits and have
become unemployed through no fault of their own. The law provides
for a system of experience rating whereby employers who maintain
steady employment are eligible for reductions in the rate of contribu-
tions. All funds collected under the Law are deposited with the
Federal Treasury for the credit of the Unemployment Trust Fund of
Maryland and may only be used for the payment of benefits (Code
1947 Supp. Art. 96A, sec. 13).

Employment Service Division

The Employment Service Division operates a free public employ-
ment service, registering applicants for jobs in all occupational
groups and it makes the initial contacts between employers and pro-
spective employees. The Division provides vocational guidance and
counseling services and administers aptitude and proficiency tests
when the desirability of such tests is indicated. The Division co-
operates with other staff departments in developing labor market
information, types of positions open, size and type of available labor
supply, current wage rates and other related material. The Division
cooperates with the Governor's Committee for the Promotion of the
Physically Handicapped; the State Veterans Service Committee, and
gives preference to qualified veterans for job openings. The Employ-
ment Service Division also maintains a special Farm Labor Pro-.
gram for the purpose of recruiting and distributing local and migra-
tory labor for agricultural purposes.

Branch Offices

The Department operates seventeen field offices throughout th&
State for the convenience of the public in filing claims for unemploy-