HB 1331

Present law generally protect s workers in this state from involuntary unemployment by providing weekly payments from the unemployment compensation fund in an amount based on a benefit formula. ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS Present law requires an unemployed claimant to be eligible to receive benefits with respect to any week only if the administrator finds that certain conditions have been met . The following are two such conditions:  The claimant has registered for work, and thereafter continued to report, at an employment office as prescribed by the administrator, except that the administrator may waive or alter either or both of these requirements as to individuals attached to regular jobs and as to such other types of cases or situations with respect to which the administrator finds that compliance with the requirements would be oppressive, or would be inconsistent with the purposes of this law .  The claimant is able to work, available for work, and making a reasonable effort to secure work , with some exceptions . " Making a reasonable effort to secure work "" means the claimant provides detailed information regarding at least four work search activities per week . The administrator must verify whether claimants are complying with this requirement and disqualify any claimant receiving benefits who the administrator finds has provided false work search information . This bill provides, upon declaration of an emergenc y by the governor of this state, that the requirements described above are suspended to the extent necessary to allow the commissioner the discretion to amend such reporting requirements upon receiving appropriate federal guidance. Such a suspension is li mited to residents of this state who reside or work in counties for which the state has requested a major disaster declaration. TEMA Present law provides that the Tennessee emergency management agency (TEMA) is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive statewide program of emergency management. In performing its duties, the agency must adhere to 19 directives, including, for example, i mplement ing training programs to improve the ability of state and local emergency management personnel to prepare and implement emergency management plans and programs, and c ooperat ing with the federal government and any public or private agency or entity in achieving or implementing programs for mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery . This bill adds to the list of directives for TEMA to b e vested with the authority to assist political subdivisions and local emergency management agencies with recovery from disasters and emergencies on public property."