(a)      The General Assembly finds that:

            (1)      homemakers have been an insufficiently recognized sector of the work force who make an invaluable contribution to the welfare of the residents of this State; and

            (2)      there is an ever-increasing number of individuals in this State who:

                  (i)      have fulfilled a role as homemaker;

                  (ii)      in their middle years, because of separation, divorce, or the death or disability of a family member depended on for support, are:

                        1.      displaced homemakers; and

                        2.      without income or with substantially reduced income;

                  (iii)      very often are ineligible for public assistance, unemployment benefits, insurance benefits, and Social Security benefits;

                  (iv)      have the highest unemployment rate of any sector of the work force;

                  (v)      face discrimination in employment because of age and the absence of any recent employment experience;

                  (vi)      often have lost rights as beneficiaries under employers' pension and health plans and other insurance plans; and

                  (vii)      often are unacceptable to private insurance plans because of their age.

      (b)      In enacting this subtitle, the General Assembly intends to provide to displaced homemakers the counseling, training, employment placement assistance, services, and health care that displaced homemakers need to continue as productive residents of this State.