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HF2996 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Unemployment insurance; definition of available for suitable employment modified , and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF3053

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The primary purpose of this bill is to update the criteria for determining whether an applicant is available for suitable employment in the context of unemployment benefits. This involves making changes to existing definitions that affect eligibility for such benefits.

Main Provisions

  • Definition of Availability: The bill clarifies that an applicant must be genuinely attached to the workforce, meaning they are ready, willing, and able to accept suitable employment. There should not be self-imposed or circumstance-created restrictions that prevent them from accepting suitable work.

  • Students and Employment: Students receiving unemployment benefits must be willing to quit or rearrange their class schedules if these classes interfere with their ability to accept suitable employment. If a class schedule cannot be changed and is a barrier to accepting a job, the individual would fail to meet the required availability for employment.

  • Presence in the Labor Market: Applicants who leave the labor market area for personal reasons, unless those reasons involve remote job searching, are considered unavailable for suitable employment.

  • Availability During Typical Working Hours: Applicants with arbitrary restrictions on working hours that differ from the norm for their typical employment are considered unavailable. This includes being available for daytime work if the job usually occurs during daytime hours, even if the applicant has previously worked different shifts.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • The bill introduces an emphasis on the genuine attachment to the workforce, tightening the criteria under which students need to allow for employment by potentially adjusting their class schedules.
  • It emphasizes the geographical and time availability constraints, disallowing absences from the labor market for personal reasons that do not involve job searching. It also clarifies that individuals must be flexible with their working hours reflective of standard industry hours for eligibility.

Relevant Terms

unemployment benefits, suitable employment, workforce attachment, reemployment assistance, class schedule adjustment, labor market area, work restriction, daytime employment, night shift, unemployment eligibility.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 31, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toWorkforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on the requirement for students to be willing to discontinue classes if it restricts their ability to accept suitable employment."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the definition of 'available for suitable employment' under section 268.085, subdivision 15 in relation to unemployment benefits.",
      "modified": [
        "Adds subsections detailing conditions under which an applicant cannot impose restrictions and must be ready to accept suitable employment."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "268.085",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 15"
  }
]

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