1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to unemployment insurance; authorizing an extension of unemployment 
1.3 	insurance benefits for certain mining employees.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1.MINING AND RELATED INDUSTRY EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT 
1.6 	BENEFITS PROGRAM.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Availability of extended benefits. Notwithstanding any other law to the 
1.8 	contrary, extended unemployment benefits are available from the Minnesota unemployment 
1.9 	insurance trust fund to an applicant who was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic by:
1.10 	(1) an iron ore mining industry employer; or
1.11 	(2) an employer providing goods or services to an iron mining industry employer if the 
1.12 	applicant was laid off due to the cessation or substantial reduction in operations of an iron 
1.13 	mining industry employer.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Eligibility requirements. An applicant is eligible to receive extended 
1.15 	unemployment benefits under this section for any week through the week ending March 
1.16 	31, 2021, if:
1.17 	(1) the applicant established a benefit account under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.07, 
1.18 	with a majority of the wage credits from an iron ore mining industry employer or an employer 
1.19 	providing goods or services to iron mining industry employers, and has exhausted the 
1.20 	maximum available amount of state or federal unemployment benefits available on that 
1.21 	benefit account; and
2.1 	(2) the applicant meets the same requirements that an applicant for regular unemployment 
2.2 	benefits must meet under Minnesota Statutes, section 268.069, subdivision 1.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Receipt of benefits. Receipt of extended benefits under this section are deferred 
2.4 	until eligibility for federal unemployment benefits have been exhausted.

2.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.