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<section article="gle" article_name="Labor and Employment" number="8-605.1" title_number="8" title_name="Unemployment Insurance" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Contributions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“New employer” has the meaning stated in § 8–609(a) of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Taxable wage base” has the meaning stated in § 8–601 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Beginning January 1, 2026, each employing unit that is determined to be liable under this subtitle to pay contributions shall be subject to an annual administrative fee of 0.15% of its taxable wage base.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The timing and manner of payment shall be as determined by the Secretary.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, beginning January 1, 2026, the contribution rate assigned to each employing unit under this subtitle, exclusive of any penalties, fines, or interest required to be paid by an employing unit under any other provision of this title, shall be adjusted by subtracting 0.15% from each rate.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A new employer shall pay at least 1% of its taxable wage base.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The administrative fee payments collected under this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall be considered separate and distinct from contributions;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may not be credited to the accounts of individual employing units; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>shall be deposited into the Special Administrative Expense Fund established under § 8–419 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The administrative fees collected under this section may be used for administrative expenses in accordance with § 8–421 of this title, including expenses to improve customer service, conduct data analysis, support information technology improvements, combat fraud, and accelerate reemployment.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The administrative fees collected under this section may not be used for administrative expenses of the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Secretary may adopt regulations necessary to carry out this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
