Fighting for Transparency, Equity, and Accountability in Maryland’s Economic Recovery
$126.8 Million in Federal Recovery Act Funds Await General Assembly Action
Andrea Payne Roethke
Job Opportunities Task Force
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government made a total of $7 billion available to states that make certain reforms to their unemployment insurance (UI) systems. Through this provision, known as the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act, Maryland is eligible for up to $126.8 million. The funds would provide a major boost to the declining state UI trust fund, but the state has not yet acted to claim the incentive. Maryland must take a few steps to make this happen. First, the state must adopt an Alternate Base Period (ABP). ABP provides coverage to workers who are currently denied UI due to an outdated data collection system that ignores recent work. The state must also adopt at least one more of a slate of reforms, one of which would provide extended benefits to workers who are participating in job training.
For more details, read the Special Report from the Job Opportunities Task Force - Unemployment Insurance: Rescuing Maryland Workers & Buoying Local Business.
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