HB 2542

Present law disqualifies an applicant for unemployment benefits if the administrator finds that the applicant failed without good cause to apply for or accept suitable work. Suitable work is determined by evaluating the risk involved to the claimant's h ealth, their prior earnings, and the distance of the available work from the applicant's residence. Work is deemed suitable if the gross weekly wages equal or exceed the following sliding scale of the claimant's high-quarter wages: (i) 100% during the fi rs t 13 weeks of unemployment; (ii) 7 5% for weeks 14 through 25 ; (iii) 70% for weeks 26 through 38 ; and (iv) 65% after the 38th week. This bill alters the criteria for maintaining benefit eligibility by removing the specific mathematical , wage-based sliding scale protections . Under this bill, a claimant is disqualified if the administrator finds the claimant failed without good cause to apply for or accept suitable work, which is now determined solely by considering all of the following: (i) the degree of risk involved to the claimant's health, safety , and morals ; (ii) the claimant's physical fitness and prior training ; and (iii) their experience and prior earnings . This bill also removes the statutory minimum wage that work must meet to be deemed suitable to receive unemployment benefits. STUDENTS AND VETERANS The present sliding scale affects eligibility conditions for students, who become ineligible if they refuse the same job previously held if that job meets the standards for suitable work as required by applicable federal la w. Similarly, a veteran enrolled in school under the federal G.I. Bill must not be denied benefits solely for school attendance, but they become ineligible if they refuse an offer for the same job they held subsequent to receiving unemployment benefits i f the offer qualifies as suitable work. This bill's new suitable work standard alters eligibility for students and veterans enrolled in school under the federal G.I. Bill. If a student or veteran is offered the same job that the claimant previously held immediately prior to entering school and refuses it, such student or veteran can be found to be ineligible for benefits at the administrator's discretion if the work is found to be suitable after considering the (i) degree of risk involved to the claimant's health, safety, and morals; (ii) the a pplicant's physical fitness and prior training; and (iii) their experience and prior earnings.