The proposed bill would amend the current unemployment insurance (UI) benefit duration based on the unemployment rate (UR) from the previous calendar quarter. Under current law, individuals are entitled to 24 weeks of benefits if the UR is less than 5 percent and 26 weeks if it is 5 percent or more. The bill would change this structure significantly by establishing a tiered system where individuals could receive benefits for as few as 12 weeks if the UR is 5 percent or less, and up to 26 weeks if the UR exceeds 8 percent.

Specifically, the bill introduces new benefit durations: 14 weeks for UR between 5 and 5.5 percent, 16 weeks for UR between 5.5 and 6 percent, 18 weeks for UR between 6 and 6.5 percent, 20 weeks for UR between 6.5 and 7 percent, 22 weeks for UR between 7 and 7.5 percent, and 24 weeks for UR between 7.5 and 8 percent. This change would replace the existing provisions in the current statute, which only account for two benefit durations based on a single threshold.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 23-780
House Engrossed Version: 23-780