Ch. 269

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(7)     a representative of union labor; and employees union labor,
designated jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Delegates by the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO;

(8)     a representative of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, designated
by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce; and

(9)     a representative of the academic profession who is knowledgeable in
unemployment insurance law, designated jointly by the President of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

(c)      The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House jointly shall
appoint the member of the general public, and ahull jointly designate the chairperson
from among the members of the Task Force. co-chairs from among the Senate and
House members appointed to the Task Force.

(d)     The Task Force shall examine:

(1)     the fairness of the existing charging and taxation system under
current Maryland Unemployment Insurance law, taking into consideration the
impact on small, medium, and large employers across a variety of industries;

(2)     the fairness of the existing eligibility and benefit provisions under
current Maryland Unemployment Insurance law;

(2)     (3) the need for altering the current system of charging and
taxation in order to maintain the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund at a level
sufficient to ensure that benefits will be paid from the Fund; and

(3) (4) the impact of changes in the national and State economies and
their relationship to changes in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

(e)     The Task Force shall make specific recommendations, including
developing draft legislation, on what steps might be taken to ensure that payments
into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund remain adequate and equitable for
both employees and employers.

(f)      The Department of Legislative Services, with assistance from in
consultation with the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, shall provide
staffing for the Task Force.

(g)     A member of the Task Force may not receive compensation for serving on
the Task Force, but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard
State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

(h) On or before December 1, 2003, the Task Force shall report its findings and
recommendations to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government
Article, to the General Assembly.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 2003. It shall remain effective for a period of 7 months and, at the end of
December 31, 2003, with no further action required by the General Assembly, this Act
shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect.

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