HF 36

as introduced - 91st Legislature, 2020 2nd Special Session (2020 - 2020) Posted on 07/13/2020 12:21pm

A bill for an act
relating to unemployment insurance; temporarily modifying eligibility for secondary
students.

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

Section 1. new text begin TEMPORARY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ELIGIBILITY FOR
SECONDARY STUDENTS.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 268.085, subdivision 2, clause (3), or
any other law to the contrary, an applicant who establishes an unemployment insurance
benefit account between January 27, 2020, and December 31, 2020, is eligible for
unemployment benefits for any week that the applicant is a student in attendance at, doing
distance learning through, or on vacation from a secondary school, including the period
between academic years or terms, if the applicant meets the other eligibility requirements
under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268, and as provided in paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding the definition of "available for suitable employment" provided in
Minnesota Statutes, section 268.085, subdivision 15, a secondary student who is otherwise
eligible for unemployment benefits under this section is available for suitable employment
if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the student's secondary school attendance does not eliminate a substantial portion of
the student's full-time labor market availability and the student is ready, willing, and able
to accept suitable employment outside of regularly scheduled school attendance; or
new text end

new text begin (2) the student restricts availability to suitable part-time employment due to secondary
school attendance; 50 percent or more of the student's wage credits in the base period are
from part-time employment; and the student is ready, willing, and able to accept suitable
employment outside of regularly scheduled school attendance under essentially the same
conditions as existed when the wage credits were accrued; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the following conditions exist:
new text end

new text begin (i) the student has a genuine attachment to the work force;
new text end

new text begin (ii) the student may restrict availability to suitable employment, but there must be no
other restrictions to accepting suitable employment, except as provided in this paragraph;
and
new text end

new text begin (iii) subject to existing conditions in the labor market area, a reasonable demand exists
for the part-time services or availability the student offers.
new text end

new text begin (c) This section expires December 31, 2020.
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 January 27, 2020.
new text end