The bill amends Section 28-42-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-42, which deals with "Employment Security General Provisions." It introduces a new section titled "Definitions," which provides clarity on key terms relevant to unemployment insurance. The bill extends the sunset date for certain provisions from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2029, allowing individuals to access benefits based on their earnings relative to the weekly benefit rate.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 28-44-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-44, which pertains to "Employment Security Benefits." It establishes that for weeks beginning on or after May 23, 2021, through June 30, 2029, eligible individuals who are partially unemployed will receive benefits equal to the weekly benefit rate for total unemployment, minus any wages earned during that week. The total benefits cannot exceed 150% of the individual's weekly benefit rate. The bill also extends the provisions related to the increase in the total earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being disqualified from benefits, as well as the increase in the amount of earnings disregarded when calculating the weekly benefit rate. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7962: 28-42-3, 28-44-7
7962  SUB A: 28-42-3, 28-44-7