HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1917

(3)  IS NOT GAINFULLY EMPLOYED;

(4)  HAS HAD, OR WOULD HAVE, DIFFICULTY IN SECURING
EMPLOYMENT; AND

(5)  HAS DEPENDED ON:

(I)  THE INCOME OF A FAMILY MEMBER AND HAS LOST
THAT INCOME AS THE RESULT OF SEPARATION, DIVORCE, OR THE DEATH OR
DISABILITY OF THAT FAMILY MEMBER; OR

(II)  GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AS THE PARENT OF A
DEPENDENT CHILD AND IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THAT ASSISTANCE.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived
without substantive change from former Article 88A, §
91.

4-602. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF INTENT.

(A) FINDINGS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:

(1)  HOMEMAKERS HAVE BEEN AN INSUFFICIENTLY RECOGNIZED
SECTOR OF THE WORK FORCE WHO MAKE AN INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO
THE WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE; AND

(2)  THERE IS AN EVER-INCREASING NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS
IN THIS STATE WHO:

(I)  HAVE FULFILLED A ROLE AS HOMEMAKER;

(II)  IN THEIR MIDDLE YEARS, BECAUSE OF
SEPARATION, DIVORCE, OR THE DEATH OR DISABILITY OF A FAMILY
MEMBER DEPENDED ON FOR SUPPORT, ARE:

A.  DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS; AND

B.  WITHOUT INCOME OR WITH SUBSTANTIALLY
REDUCED INCOME;

(III)  VERY OFTEN ARE INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, INSURANCE BENEFITS, AND SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS;

(IV)  HAVE THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF ANY
SECTOR OF THE WORK FORCE;

(V)  FACE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE
OF AGE AND THE ABSENCE OF ANY RECENT EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE; AND

(VI)  OFTEN HAVE LOST RIGHTS AS BENEFICIARIES
UNDER EMPLOYERS' PENSION AND HEALTH PLANS AND OTHER INSURANCE
PLANS; AND