HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                    1613

CHAPTER 438

(House Bill 316)
AN ACT concerning

Unemployment Insurance - Penalties for Fraud

FOR the purpose of increasing the fine for a conviction of

unemployment insurance fraud; providing that unemployment
insurance fraud shall be considered a misdemeanor; repealing
certain requirements that each false statement or
representation or failure to disclose a material fact shall
constitute a separate offense; providing for the assessment

of interest on improperly paid benefits due to a false
statement or representation or failure to disclose a

material fact; and providing that certain criminal actions
may be prosecuted in the jurisdiction where the individual
filed for benefits to which the individual was not legally
entitled.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 95A - Unemployment Insurance Law
Section 17(a), (b), (c), and (e), and 18(b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1985 Replacement Volume)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF

MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 95A - Unemployment Insurance Law

17.

(a) Whoever makes a false statement or representation
knowing it to be false or knowingly fails to disclose a material
fact, to obtain or increase any benefit or other payment under
this article, or under an unemployment insurance law of any other
state, or of the federal government, or of a foreign government,
either for himself or for any other person, [shall be punished by
a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 or by
imprisonment for not longer than ninety days or by both such fine
and imprisonment; and each false statement or representation or
failure to disclose a material fact shall constitute a separate

Offense] SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR. UPON CONVICTION, THE
PERSON SHALL MAKE FULL RESTITUTION OF THE BENEFITS UNLAWFULLY
RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTEREST AT A RATE OF 1.5 PERCENT PER MONTH
FROM THE DATE THE PERSON IS NOTIFIED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE
AMOUNT TO BE RECOVERED AND THE PERSON SHALL BE FINED AN AMOUNT