House File 331 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 331 BY FRY A BILL FOR An Act relating to waiver or alteration of work search 1 requirements for unemployment benefits due to a short-term 2 temporary layoff. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1837YH (3) 90 je/rn

H.F. 331 Section 1. Section 96.4, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 1 2023, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the 3 contrary, the department may establish by rule a process to 4 waive or alter the work search requirements of this subsection 5 for a claim for benefits if an individual has a reasonable 6 expectation that the individual will be returning to employment 7 and is attached to a regular job or industry or a member in 8 good standing of a union therein eligible for referral for 9 employment. To be considered attached to a regular job or 10 industry, an individual must be on a short-term temporary 11 layoff. If work is not available at the conclusion of the 12 layoff period due to short-term circumstances beyond the 13 employer’s control, the employer may request an extension 14 of the waiver or alteration for up to two weeks from the 15 department. For purposes of this paragraph, “short-term 16 temporary layoff” means a layoff period of sixteen weeks or 17 less , with a specific return-to-work date verified by the 18 employer, due to seasonal weather conditions that impact the 19 ability to perform work related to highway construction, 20 repair, or maintenance with a specific return-to-work date 21 verified by the employer any of the following: 22 (1) The ability of the individual to perform work related to 23 highway construction, repair, or maintenance . 24 (2) The ability of the individual to perform work, provided 25 the individual is at least seventy years of age. 26 EXPLANATION 27 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 28 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 29 Under current law, the department of workforce development 30 may establish by rule a process to waive or alter the work 31 search requirements for a claim for unemployment benefits if 32 an individual has a reasonable expectation that the individual 33 will be returning to employment and is attached to a regular 34 job or industry or a member in good standing of a union therein 35 -1- LSB 1837YH (3) 90 je/rn 1/ 2

H.F. 331 eligible for referral for employment. To be considered 1 attached to a regular job or industry, an individual must be 2 on a short-term temporary layoff, defined as a layoff period 3 of 16 weeks or less, with a specific return-to-work date 4 verified by the employer, due to seasonal weather conditions 5 that impact the ability of the individual to perform work 6 related to highway construction, repair, or maintenance. This 7 bill provides that a layoff period of 16 weeks or less, with 8 a specific return-to-work date verified by the employer, due 9 to seasonal weather conditions that impact the ability of the 10 individual to perform work, provided the individual is at least 11 70 years of age, is also defined as a short-term temporary 12 layoff. 13 -2- LSB 1837YH (3) 90 je/rn 2/ 2