This bill amends the current law regarding disqualification for unemployment benefits related to an individual's availability to work outside their home. The new legislation removes the disqualification for individuals who are not available for work outside their home, making them eligible for unemployment benefits. The legal language changes include the insertion of "not" and "eligible" to replace "disqualified," and the replacement of "he" with "the individual." Additionally, the condition that the individual must be available for work outside their home is deleted, and new language is inserted to allow for eligibility if the work to be conducted within the individual's home offers a reasonable expectation of substantial employment opportunities, as determined by rules adopted by the commissioner pursuant to RSA 541-A.

The act is set to take effect upon its passage, with an approved and effective date of July 3, 2024. This change in legislation recognizes the validity of work-from-home arrangements and aligns unemployment benefits eligibility with the evolving nature of the workforce, which increasingly includes remote work opportunities. The bill aims to adapt unemployment benefits to contemporary work conditions, ensuring that individuals who work from home are not unfairly disqualified from receiving benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 282-A:39
Version adopted by both bodies: 282-A:39
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 282-A:39
SB330 text: 282-A:39