ON APRIL 20, 2023, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #3 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1060, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #3 rewrites this bill to make changes to the Tennessee Employment Security Law, as described below.
BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
Present law provides that an unemployed claimant must be considered eligible to receive benefits with respect to any week only if the administrator finds, amongst other conditions, that the claimant is able to work, available for work, and making a reasonable effort to secure work. Present law defines “making a reasonable effort to secure work” as the claimant providing detailed information regarding contact with at least three employers per week or must access services at a career center created by the department. The administrator is responsible for verifying whether claimants are complying with such requirement and disqualifying any claimant receiving benefits who the administrator finds has provided false work search information. In determining whether the claimant is making a reasonable effort to secure work, the administrator must consider the customary methods of obtaining work in the claimant's usual occupation or occupation for which the claimant is reasonably qualified, the current condition of the labor market, and any attachment the claimant may have to a regular job.
This amendment revises the provisions above by redefining “making a reasonable effort to secure work” to a claimant providing detailed information regarding at least four work search activities per week. This amendment also provides a list of acceptable work search activities that count toward that requirement. Additionally, this amendment revises the responsibilities of the administrator to include verifying that the claimant complies with that requirement.
DISQUALIFICATION EVENTS
This amendment adds to the list of disqualifying events under present law a claimant who fails to appear for a scheduled job interview and is non-compliant with the work search requirements of the unemployment insurance program. The claimant is disqualified for the week the failure occurred.
PORTAL, EMAIL, AND TELEPHONE HOTLINE
This amendment requires the department to establish a portal on its website and an email and telephone hotline, for employers to report a claimant who fails to appear for a scheduled job interview and to communicate annually with employers in this state that participate in the unemployment insurance program of the employer’s right to use the portal to report suspected unemployment insurance program violations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 50-7-807