MACo Associate Director Andrea Mansfield and MML Director Government Relations Candace Donoho testified  in support of  HB 1228/SB 882 with amendments.  The proposed bills would provide an extended 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to Maryland’s long-term unemployed who have exhausted all of their State and federal emergency unemployment benefits.  The Federal government is providing 100% funding for private employers, but the State and many local governments are self-insured and would be required to pay these benefits directly to any former employees who qualify.  The costs for local governments are estimated to be $12 million.

During the hearing, MACo and MML requested the opportunity to work with the Committees to identify ways to help local governments accommodate these costs without putting new strains on local budgets.

MACo HB 1228 Testimony
MACo SB 882 Testimony