SB 354

This bill does all of the following:

1. Requires the governor and the secretary of workforce development to

terminate this state's participation in federal programs that provide or supplement

unemployment benefits to workers in this state. These programs include a) the

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provides a benefit to

certain workers not otherwise eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI)

benefits, b) the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

program, which provides additional weeks of UI benefit payments beyond the

normal 26 weeks available under state law, and c) the Federal Pandemic

Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) and Mixed Earner Unemployment

Compensation (MEUC) programs, which provide an additional dollar benefit on top

of regular UI benefits, PEUC benefits, PUA benefits, and work-share benefits. The

bill requires that the termination be effective beginning with the earliest week that

the agreements can be terminated.

2. Prohibits DWD from waiving the work search requirement for any reason

that is related to COVID-19 or the the COVID-19 pandemic or a public health

emergency that is in response to or otherwise related to COVID-19.

Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to search for

work each week in order to remain eligible, but the Department of Workforce

Development is required to waive these requirements under certain circumstances.

Under current law, DWD has limited rule-making authority to modify the

availability of waivers or establish additional waivers if necessary to comply with a

requirement under federal law or if specifically allowed under federal law.