ME LD706

Repeals and reorganizes Maine's unemployment insurance eligibility conditions into a new consolidated section (§1192-A), incorporating provisions for work registration, active job search requirements, ability/availability for work, a one-week waiting period, and wage requirements for establishing benefit years

Expands the definition of unemployment fraud to include soliciting others to make false statements or fail to disclose material facts, and establishes tiered penalties: 50% of benefits falsely obtained for first offense, 75% for second offense, and 100% plus indefinite disqualification for third offense or identity fraud

Changes employee leasing company reporting requirements effective January 1, 2026 to require contributions be reported under the client company's state employer identification number and contribution rate rather than the leasing company's

Extends appeal deadlines for benefit redeterminations from 15 to 30 calendar days and reduces the federal background investigation requirement for Bureau of Unemployment Compensation employees accessing federal tax information from every 10 years to every 5 years

Modifies benefit repayment rules so that when overpayments are recovered by offsetting subsequent benefits, the repayment applies only to the principal amount rather than first to penalties and interest