SSB 1159

This bill relates to unemployment benefits. The bill strikes language providing that an eligible individual’s maximum weekly benefit amount varies with the number of the individual’s dependents. The bill instead provides that an individual with dependents will have a weekly benefit amount of 1/22 the individual’s highest gross quarterly salary during the individual’s base period, subject to a maximum of percent of the statewide average weekly wage. The bill provides that the maximum weekly benefit amount for unemployment benefits shall be rounded to the upper multiple of $1, rather than the lower multiple as provided under current law. The bill requires a person applying for unemployment benefits to complete a specified number of work searches, based on the number of jobs listed as available as published by the department of workforce development (IWD) on the first day of the previous month, for each week the person is applying for benefits in order to be eligible for benefits. A work search shall not satisfy an individual’s eligibility requirements if the individual previously applied to the same position within the most recent four weeks. The bill defines “work search” as applying for a job by submitting a resume or application to a potential employer in person, through the mail, by electronic means, or by fax transmission; interviewing for a job virtually or in person; taking a civil service exam; or taking a military aptitude exam. _____ skills that the individual claimed to have when applying for benefits. The bill requires IWD to provide the individual a list of these jobs on a weekly basis. The bill requires a person applying for unemployment benefits to complete one search activity each week as designated by IWD in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits. The search activities are in addition to other work search requirements to receive unemployment benefits. A search activity shall only meet eligibility requirements if the individual has not previously performed that type of search activity during the individual’s benefit year in order to remain eligible. The bill requires IWD to establish by rule different types of search activities acceptable to meet these requirements. The bill strikes language providing that when IWD waives or alters the work search requirements for a claim for benefits if an individual has a reasonable expectation that the individual will be returning to employment and is attached to a regular job or industry on a short-term temporary layoff, the employer may request an extension of the waiver or alteration for up to two weeks if work is not available at the conclusion of the layoff period due to short-term circumstances beyond the employer’s control. The bill requires IWD to allow an employer to protest a payment of unemployment benefits and to protest and sign a notice of claim electronically using a form created by IWD. The bill increases the periods for parties to protest payment of unemployment benefits to a claimant, and to file an appeal from a decision regarding the eligibility for, or amount or duration of, a claim for unemployment benefits to calendar days. _____ a reference to the nonparticipating workforce rate. The bill also requires that when IWD makes a reference to a workforce term in an official written statement or in a report or other document that is published and available to the public, the IWD must also reference each other workforce term. The bill defines “nonparticipating workforce rate” as the portion of the population that is not employed or earnestly and actively seeking work. The bill defines “workforce term” as the nonparticipating workforce rate, the state unemployment rate, or the number of known, available jobs in Iowa as published by IWD. The bill takes effect January 1, 2024.