EMPLOYEE'S ELIGIBILITY FOR SHARED WORK BENEFITS.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, an individual is unemployed for the purposes of this subtitle in a week in which the individual works under an approved shared work plan in effect for that week for less than the individual's normal weekly hours of work.

(b) An individual is eligible to receive shared work benefits for a week in which:

(1) the individual is employed as a member of an affected unit subject to a shared work plan that was approved before that week and is in effect for that week;

(2) the individual is able to work and is available for additional hours of work or for full-time work with the participating employer; and

(3) the individual's normal weekly hours of work have been reduced by at least 10 percent but not more than 40 percent, with a corresponding reduction in wages.

(c) The commission may not deny shared work benefits for a week to an otherwise eligible individual because of a provision of this subtitle that relates to:

(1) availability for work;

(2) active search for work; or

(3) refusal to apply for or to accept work with an employer other than the participating employer.