96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB3928

 

Introduced 3/23/2010, by Sen. Toi W. Hutchinson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
820 ILCS 405/1717 new

    Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that: eligible economically distressed workers enrolled or participating in economically distressed worker training may not be denied unemployment insurance benefits solely because they are attending training; eligible economically distressed workers approved for economically distressed worker training may not be denied unemployment insurance benefits for refusing to accept work, subject to certain conditions; and eligible economically distressed workers who are enrolled or participating in economically distressed worker training and who are otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits are not ineligible for benefits or waiting week credit because of attendance in the training. Sets forth duties of the Director of Employment Security and contains provisions regarding rules and a report. Provides that a base period employer's account may not be charged for benefits for economically distressed worker training paid under this Section, but this does not relieve the State, reimbursing political subdivisions, or reimbursing nonprofit employers from paying into the unemployment trust fund account an amount equal to the benefits for economically distressed worker training paid under the new provisions. Contains applicability provisions.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning employment.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Unemployment Insurance Act is amended by
5 adding Section 1717 as follows:
 
6     (820 ILCS 405/1717 new)
7     Sec. 1717. Economically distressed worker training.
8     A. As used in this Section:
9     1. "Economically distressed worker training" means:
10         a. training and education that provide
11     occupation-specific skills required in high-demand
12     occupations, as determined by the Director; or
13         b. retraining and basic education, including literacy
14     skills, that are designed to prepare an individual, within
15     a reasonable period not to exceed 2 years, for gainful
16     employment or self-employment that is likely to become
17     full-time employment paying at least 110% of the minimum
18     wage established under the Minimum Wage Law.
19     "Economically distressed worker training" does not include
20 programs of instruction that are primarily intended to lead to
21 a baccalaureate or higher degree, or training that prepares
22 individuals for employment in occupations that require a
23 baccalaureate or higher degree, unless approved by the

 

 

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1 Director.
2     2. "Eligible economically distressed workers" means
3 individuals who:
4         a. are unemployed as described in Section 239;
5         b. are eligible for benefits under this Act and are not
6     disqualified from receiving benefits under this Act; and
7         c. have been employed in work paying less than 110% of
8     the minimum wage established under the Minimum Wage Law
9     during their entire base period.
10     B. Eligible economically distressed workers enrolled or
11 participating in economically distressed worker training may
12 not be denied unemployment insurance benefits solely because
13 they are attending training. Eligible economically distressed
14 workers approved for economically distressed worker training
15 may not be denied unemployment insurance benefits for refusing
16 to accept work if the work offered:
17         1. is part-time or temporary or interferes with the
18     eligible economically distressed worker's training
19     schedule; and
20         2. pays less than 110% of the minimum wage established
21     under the Minimum Wage Law.
22     Notwithstanding any provision of this Act relating to
23 availability for work or actively seeking work, eligible
24 economically distressed workers who are enrolled or
25 participating in economically distressed worker training and
26 who are otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits

 

 

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1 are not ineligible for benefits or waiting week credit because
2 of attendance in the training.
3     C. The Director shall adopt rules necessary for the
4 administration of this Section, including procedures for
5 approval, periodic review for continued approval, or
6 disapproval of economically distressed worker training for
7 eligible economically distressed workers. The Director shall
8 ensure that all programs for eligible economically distressed
9 workers provide integrated and appropriate training and
10 education. Not later than March 1, 2012, the Director shall
11 submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report on the
12 operation of economically distressed worker training through
13 January 31, 2012.
14     D. A base period employer's account may not be charged for
15 benefits for economically distressed worker training paid
16 under this Section. However, nothing in this Section may be
17 construed to relieve the State, reimbursing political
18 subdivisions, or reimbursing nonprofit employers from paying
19 into the unemployment trust fund account an amount equal to the
20 benefits for economically distressed worker training paid
21 under this Section.
22     E. This Section applies to claims for benefits filed on or
23 after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th
24 General Assembly.