Ch, 120                                 1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

11-304.

(a)     The State's quick response program is under the direction of the Secretary.

(b)     The Secretary in cooperation with the Work Force Investment Board shall
develop voluntary guidelines for employers faced with a reduction in operations. These
guidelines shall include:

(1)     the appropriate length of time for advance notification to employees that
an employer expects to terminate due to a reduction in operations. Whenever possible
and appropriate, at least 90 days notice shall be given;

(2)     the appropriate continuation of benefits, such as health, severance, and
pension, that an employer should provide to employees who will be terminated due to a
reduction in operations; or

(3)     the specific mechanisms that employers can utilize to ask for the
assistance of the State's quick response program.

(c)     The Department shall maintain the capacity to provide employment and
training services through the quick response program. This capacity shall include, but not
be limited to:

(1)     on-site unemployment insurance bulk claims registration: for incidents
where 25 or more workers are laid off at 1 time, taking initial unemployment insurance
claims at the employee's place of business;

(2)     registration for federal Trade Readjustment Act services: if the business
closing is due to foreign competition, assisting workers in seeking federal training benefits
and additional unemployment insurance compensation benefits;

(3)     provision of labor market and retraining information: in conjunction
with local service providers, providing both local labor market information and retraining
information that can assist the workers to obtain reemployment and/or retraining;

(4)     job placement services: through the regular office services or through
special on-site services, providing a range of job placement services utilizing the "job
bank";

(5)     job seeking and finding information: providing 1-day workshops to assist
job seekers in learning how to seek and secure jobs; or

(6)     referral to retraining opportunities: through liaisons with the private
industry councils/service delivery areas and the community college network, providing
referrals for dislocated workers for retraining opportunities.

(d)     The Department shall distribute the reduction in operations guidelines to all
employers in the State every 2 years. The distribution shall begin no later than July 1,
1986.

(e)     The Department shall monitor layoff and employment patterns and payments
of unemployment compensation contributions to identify employers that are likely to
experience large losses in employment or a reduction in operations.

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