Assigned to BI & APPROP                                                                                                AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1018

 

unemployment insurance; waiting week

(NOW:  unemployment security; waiting period)

 

Purpose

 

Eliminates the one-week waiting requirement for eligibility for unemployment benefits for individuals who are required to attend uncompensated training as a condition of remaining employed.

 

Background

 

Under current law, individuals seeking unemployment benefits are required to meet different criteria, including having been unemployed for a waiting period of one week.  In many situations, workers are required to receive uncompensated training as a condition to keep their employment. Many times, unions or other organizations are able to pay for the member’s or employee’s training but cannot afford to replace the weekly wages for that worker. Concern has been expressed that this situation creates economic hardships on these individuals and their families. S.B. 1018 removes the waiting week period for these individuals to enable them to receive a week of unemployment benefits for a week of uncompensated training, for a total of up to five weeks of unemployment benefits each benefit year.  S.B. 1018 makes technical changes in the location of the new language inside the applicable statute.  Also, language is included that clarifies that those receiving uncompensated training are not considered unavailable to work nor employed for the purpose of the statute. 

 

While the expansion of the eligibility for unemployment benefits may impact the unemployment trust fund and employer tax rates, the extent of this impact is unknown at this time.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Eliminates the required one week waiting period for the purpose of qualifying for up to five weeks of unemployment insurance benefits (one week of benefits for each week of training) if a person is required to attend uncompensated training as a condition for keeping a job. 

 

2.      Specifies that an individual is considered unemployed and available for work by participating in uncompensated training, required to keep the person’s job.

 

3.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Senate Action

 

BI                    2/8/01              DP                   3-1-2-0

APPROP         3/9/01              DPA/SE           8-2-2-0

3rd Read           3/15/01            DPA                20-9-1-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 20, 2001