In the event of any distribution of an employer's assets pursuant to an order of any court under the laws of this State, including any receivership, assignment for benefit of creditors, adjudicated insolvency, composition or similar proceeding, assessments then due or thereafter falling due shall be paid in full prior to all other claims except taxes due the United States or the State which by statutory provision are prior liens on the assets and claims for wages of not more than $250 to each claimant earned within 6 months of the commencement of the proceeding. In the event of an employer's adjudication in bankruptcy, judicially confirmed extension proposal or composition, under the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 as amended [11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.], assessments then or thereafter due shall be entitled to such priority as is provided by that Act for taxes due to a state of the United States.