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House File 331 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to waiver or alteration of work search
2requirements for unemployment benefits due to a short-term
3temporary layoff.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 96.4, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code
22023, is amended to read as follows:
3b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the
4contrary, the department may establish by rule a process to
5waive or alter the work search requirements of this subsection
6for a claim for benefits if an individual has a reasonable
7expectation that the individual will be returning to employment
8and is attached to a regular job or industry or a member in
9good standing of a union therein eligible for referral for
10employment. To be considered attached to a regular job or
11industry, an individual must be on a short-term temporary
12layoff. If work is not available at the conclusion of the
13layoff period due to short-term circumstances beyond the
14employer’s control, the employer may request an extension
15of the waiver or alteration for up to two weeks from the
16department. For purposes of this paragraph, “short-term
17temporary layoff” means a layoff period of sixteen weeks or
18less, with a specific return-to-work date verified by the
19employer, due to seasonal weather conditions that impact the
20ability to perform work related to highway construction,
21repair, or maintenance with a specific return-to-work date
22verified by the employer any of the following:
23(1) The ability of the individual to perform work related to
24highway construction, repair, or maintenance.
25(2) The ability of the individual to perform work, provided
26the individual is at least seventy years of age.
27EXPLANATION
28The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
29the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
30Under current law, the department of workforce development
31may establish by rule a process to waive or alter the work
32search requirements for a claim for unemployment benefits if
33an individual has a reasonable expectation that the individual
34will be returning to employment and is attached to a regular
35job or industry or a member in good standing of a union therein
-1-1eligible for referral for employment. To be considered
2attached to a regular job or industry, an individual must be
3on a short-term temporary layoff, defined as a layoff period
4of 16 weeks or less, with a specific return-to-work date
5verified by the employer, due to seasonal weather conditions
6that impact the ability of the individual to perform work
7related to highway construction, repair, or maintenance. This
8bill provides that a layoff period of 16 weeks or less, with
9a specific return-to-work date verified by the employer, due
10to seasonal weather conditions that impact the ability of the
11individual to perform work, provided the individual is at least
1270 years of age, is also defined as a short-term temporary
13layoff.
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2requirements for unemployment benefits due to a short-term
3temporary layoff.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 96.4, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code
22023, is amended to read as follows:
3b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the
4contrary, the department may establish by rule a process to
5waive or alter the work search requirements of this subsection
6for a claim for benefits if an individual has a reasonable
7expectation that the individual will be returning to employment
8and is attached to a regular job or industry or a member in
9good standing of a union therein eligible for referral for
10employment. To be considered attached to a regular job or
11industry, an individual must be on a short-term temporary
12layoff. If work is not available at the conclusion of the
13layoff period due to short-term circumstances beyond the
14employer’s control, the employer may request an extension
15of the waiver or alteration for up to two weeks from the
16department. For purposes of this paragraph, “short-term
17temporary layoff” means a layoff period of sixteen weeks or
18less, with a specific return-to-work date verified by the
19employer, due to seasonal weather conditions that impact the
20ability to perform work related to highway construction,
21repair, or maintenance with a specific return-to-work date
22verified by the employer any of the following:
23(1) The ability of the individual to perform work related to
24highway construction, repair, or maintenance.
25(2) The ability of the individual to perform work, provided
26the individual is at least seventy years of age.
27EXPLANATION
28The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
29the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
30Under current law, the department of workforce development
31may establish by rule a process to waive or alter the work
32search requirements for a claim for unemployment benefits if
33an individual has a reasonable expectation that the individual
34will be returning to employment and is attached to a regular
35job or industry or a member in good standing of a union therein
-1-1eligible for referral for employment. To be considered
2attached to a regular job or industry, an individual must be
3on a short-term temporary layoff, defined as a layoff period
4of 16 weeks or less, with a specific return-to-work date
5verified by the employer, due to seasonal weather conditions
6that impact the ability of the individual to perform work
7related to highway construction, repair, or maintenance. This
8bill provides that a layoff period of 16 weeks or less, with
9a specific return-to-work date verified by the employer, due
10to seasonal weather conditions that impact the ability of the
11individual to perform work, provided the individual is at least
1270 years of age, is also defined as a short-term temporary
13layoff.
-2-je/rn