HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3494 FILED ON: 1/16/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1738
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Brian R. Mannal
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to examine Massachusetts unemployment insurance rate-setting system.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Brian R. Mannal | 2nd Barnstable | 1/16/2015 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3494 FILED ON: 1/16/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1738
By Mr. Mannal of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1738) of Brian R. Mannal relative to the unemployment insurance rate-setting system in the Commonwealth. Labor and Workforce Development. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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An Act to examine Massachusetts unemployment insurance rate-setting system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a commission shall be established to study the effectiveness of Massachusetts current unemployment UI rate-setting system and/or processes. The goal of the commission shall be to examine the formula and processes by which the Department of Unemployment Assistance sets rates for business, as well as to examine the benefits and/or drawbacks of automated rate-setting systems that account for UI trust fund balances, unemployment data and economic conditions. The commission shall review the best practices of UI rate-setting systems in other states of comparable size and UI claims activity to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and shall make a full report to the legislature to assist in determining whether the Commonwealth's rate-setting system should be modified to make it more transparent for businesses, as well as whether changes should be made to make UI costs more stable and predictable without the need for annual legislative action. The commission shall include: the director of the Department of Unemployment Assistance, or his/her designee; one member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker; one member of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate President; as well as an executive liaison to the Office of the Governor, chosen by the Governor. Said commission shall submit a report back to the legislature with findings and recommendations for the legislature on or before December 31, 2015.