HF 1599

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to unemployment insurance; providing eligibility for unemployment
benefits and extra benefits for certain mechanics involved in a labor dispute
with Northwest Airlines, Inc.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin ELIGIBILITY EXCEPTION; EXTRA BENEFITS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Conditions. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding the requirements of Minnesota
Statutes, section 268.07 or 268.086, the commissioner of employment and economic
development shall pay unemployment benefits under subdivision 2 to an applicant who:
new text end

new text begin (1) was employed as a technician or inspector for Northwest Airlines, Inc. prior
to August 20, 2005;
new text end

new text begin (2) stopped working on or about August 20, 2005, due to a labor dispute between the
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Northwest Airlines, Inc.;
new text end

new text begin (3) established or was eligible to establish an unemployment benefit account with
the Department of Employment and Economic Development as a result of the labor
dispute; and
new text end

new text begin (4) meets all the ongoing eligibility requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section
268.085, exclusive of the requirements to file an application for benefits and timely file
continued biweekly requests for benefits under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.086.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Benefits. new text end

new text begin If an applicant meets the requirements of subdivision 1, the
commissioner shall pay the applicant benefits for any periods of unemployment during the
applicant's benefit year after August 20, 2005, in the same amount as if the applicant had
filed an application for benefits and had continued to file biweekly requests for benefits as
required by law. If an applicant has not yet filed an application for benefits, the applicant
shall submit an application prior to receiving benefits under this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Extra benefits. new text end

new text begin (a) Extra unemployment benefits are available to an
applicant described under subdivision 1 if the applicant has exhausted regular benefits
paid under subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (b) The maximum amount of extra unemployment benefits available is 26 times the
applicant's weekly extra unemployment benefits amount. The weekly extra unemployment
benefits amount available to an applicant is the same as the applicant's weekly regular
unemployment benefit amount on the benefit account established as a result of the labor
dispute under subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (c) An applicant is eligible to receive extra unemployment benefits under this
subdivision for any week prior to December 31, 2007.
new text end

new text begin (d) If an applicant qualifies for a new regular benefit account at any time after
exhausting regular unemployment benefits as a result of the labor dispute described in
subdivision 1, the applicant must apply for and exhaust entitlement to those new regular
unemployment benefits.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Payment from fund; effect on employer. new text end

new text begin Regular and extra
unemployment benefits authorized by this section are payable from the unemployment
insurance trust fund. Benefits paid under this section will be used in computing the
experience rating of Northwest Airlines, Inc. under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.047.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies retroactively from August 20, 2005.
new text end