PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

S.B. 810

(a)     On the Secretary's own initiative or on application of an employer, the
Secretary shall, on the basis of facts that the Secretary finds, determine:

(1) whether the employer is an employing unit;

(2) which employment is covered; and

(3) the contribution rate to be assigned.

(b) (1) The Secretary shall mail notice of the determination under subsection
(a) of this section to the employer at its last known address or otherwise deliver notice to
the employer.

(2) The notice shall include a statement of the supporting facts found by the
Secretary.

(c) (1) An employer may appeal a determination of the Secretary to the Board
of Appeals within 15 days after the Secretary mailed or otherwise delivered the notice
under subsection (b) of this section.

(2) The Board of Appeals shall allow the appeal.

(3)    The Secretary shall be a party to the appeal.

(4)     The Board of Appeals shall give the parties a reasonable opportunity for
a fair hearing as provided under Subtitle 5 of this title.

(D) A CLAIMANT MAKING A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS UNDER § 8-805 OF THIS
TITLE MAY NOT BE PRECLUDED FROM PURSUING THE CLAIM SOLELY BASED UPON
A DETERMINATION MADE UNDER THIS SECTION.

9-603.

On or before December 15 of each year, the Department of [Economic and
Employment Development] LABOR, LICENSING, AND REGULATION shall:

(1)     determine the State average weekly wage as of July 1 of that year; and

(2)     report the State average weekly wage to the Commission.
9-638.

(b)     On or before June 30 of each year, the Department of [Economic and
Employment Development] LABOR, LICENSING, AND REGULATION shall determine
and report to the Commission the rate of change in the Consumer Price Index in the
preceding calendar year, using as the Consumer Price Index the lower of:

(1)     the average of the Consumer Price Indices (all urban consumers, all item
index) published by the United States Department of Labor for the Baltimore MSA and
the Washington, D.C. MSA; or

(2)     the United States city average consumer price index (all urban
consumers, all item index).

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