1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to unemployment insurance; temporarily modifying eligibility for secondary 
1.3 	students.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. TEMPORARY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ELIGIBILITY FOR 
1.6 	SECONDARY STUDENTS.
 1.7 	(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 268.085, subdivision 2, clause (3), or 
1.8 	any other law to the contrary, an applicant who establishes an unemployment insurance 
1.9 	benefit account between January 27, 2020, and December 31, 2020, is eligible for 
1.10 	unemployment benefits for any week that the applicant is a student in attendance at, doing 
1.11 	distance learning through, or on vacation from a secondary school, including the period 
1.12 	between academic years or terms, if the applicant meets the other eligibility requirements 
1.13 	under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268, and as provided in paragraph (b).
1.14 	(b) Notwithstanding the definition of "available for suitable employment" provided in 
1.15 	Minnesota Statutes, section 268.085, subdivision 15, a secondary student who is otherwise 
1.16 	eligible for unemployment benefits under this section is available for suitable employment 
1.17 	if:
1.18 	(1) the student's secondary school attendance does not eliminate a substantial portion of 
1.19 	the student's full-time labor market availability and the student is ready, willing, and able 
1.20 	to accept suitable employment outside of regularly scheduled school attendance; or
1.21 	(2) the student restricts availability to suitable part-time employment due to secondary 
1.22 	school attendance; 50 percent or more of the student's wage credits in the base period are 
2.1 	from part-time employment; and the student is ready, willing, and able to accept suitable 
2.2 	employment outside of regularly scheduled school attendance under essentially the same 
2.3 	conditions as existed when the wage credits were accrued; and
2.4 	(3) the following conditions exist:
2.5 	(i) the student has a genuine attachment to the work force;
2.6 	(ii) the student may restrict availability to suitable employment, but there must be no 
2.7 	other restrictions to accepting suitable employment, except as provided in this paragraph; 
2.8 	and
2.9 	(iii) subject to existing conditions in the labor market area, a reasonable demand exists 
2.10 	for the part-time services or availability the student offers.
2.11 	(c) This section expires December 31, 2020.

2.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
2.13 	applies retroactively from January 27, 2020.