An exemption from work search requirements for certain individuals claiming unemployment insurance benefits. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill provides that a claimant for unemployment insurance benefits who reasonably expects to be reemployed by the claimant's former employer within 26 weeks is exempt from the eligibility requirement of conducting weekly searches for suitable work.

Under current law, a claimant is generally required to conduct searches for work each week to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Current law provides that a claimant who is laid off is exempt from the work search requirement if the claimant reasonably expects to be reemployed by the former employer and the Department of Workforce Development verifies that expectation. DWD may grant a claimant a waiver of the work search requirement under certain conditions. Administrative rules promulgated by DWD require DWD to grant a claimant a waiver of the work search requirement for eight weeks if the claimant reasonably expects to be reemployed with the claimant's employer within that period. The rules permit DWD to provide an additional four-week extension of that waiver. The rules also provide additional reasons a claimant may qualify for a waiver.

Who's behind it

13 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 13 are Democrats.

7 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DWD
• Fiscal Estimate From DWD (Updated)