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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 201--S.F.No. 2224

An act

relating to unemployment insurance; making federal conformity, policy, and other housekeeping changes;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 268.035, subdivision 12d; 268.042, subdivision 1; 268.044, subdivision 1; 268.046, subdivision 3; 268.047, subdivision 4; 268.051, subdivision 4; 268.069, subdivision 2; 268.085, subdivisions 5, 11, 15; 268.095, subdivision 6; 268.103, subdivision 1; 268.18, subdivisions 2, 2b, 4, 4a; 268.192, by adding a subdivision; 268.194, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, sections 268.035, subdivision 20; 268.051, subdivision 5; 268.07, subdivision 2; 268.115, subdivision 1; 268.184, subdivisions 1, 1a; repealing Minnesota Rules, part 3315.0555, subparts 2, 3, 4.

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

ARTICLE 1

FEDERAL CONFORMITY

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.047, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Limitation on exceptions.

new text begin (a) new text end Regardless of subdivisions 2 and 3, an exception under those subdivisions will be limited deleted text begin in accordance withdeleted text end new text begin according tonew text end section 268.101, subdivision 2, paragraph (b).

new text begin (b) Regardless of subdivision 2, clause (8), an exception under that clause does not apply if the overpaid unemployment benefits resulted because the employer or any employee, officer, or agent of the employer: new text end

new text begin (1) failed to respond timely or adequately to a request for information under section 268.101, subdivision 1, paragraph (b); and new text end

new text begin (2) has established a pattern of failing to respond timely or adequately to requests for information under section 268.101, subdivision 1, paragraph (b). new text end

new text begin The employer must pay the trust fund the amount of the overpaid unemployment benefits that will be used in computing the future tax rate of taxpaying employers or charged to the reimbursable account of a nonprofit or government employer under subdivision 1. The procedure for required payment is under section 268.184, subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin This paragraph is enacted to conform to the requirements of Public Law 112-40, section 252. A "pattern" for purposes of this paragraph is a prior failure to respond to the greater of two requests for information, or two percent of all requests for information in the most recent six months. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for determinations issued on or after July 1, 2013. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.18, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Overpayment because of fraud.

(a) Any applicant who receives unemployment benefits by knowingly misrepresenting, misstating, or failing to disclose any material fact, or who makes a false statement or representation without a good faith belief as to the correctness of the statement or representation, has committed fraud. After the discovery of facts indicating fraud, the commissioner must make a determination that the applicant obtained unemployment benefits by fraud and that the applicant must promptly repay the unemployment benefits to the trust fund. In addition, the commissioner must assess a penalty equal to 40 percent of the amount fraudulently obtained. This penalty is in addition to penalties under section 268.182. new text begin The determination is effective the Sunday of the week that it was issued.new text end

(b) Unless the applicant files an appeal within 20 calendar days after the sending of the determination of overpayment by fraud to the applicant by mail or electronic transmission, the determination is final. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268.105.

(c) If the applicant fails to repay the unemployment benefits, penalty, and interest assessed, the total due may be collected by the methods allowed under state and federal law. A determination of overpayment by fraud must state the methods of collection the commissioner may use to recover the overpayment. Money received in repayment of fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits, penalties, and interest is first applied to the unemployment benefits overpaid, then to the penalty amount due, then to any interest due. 62.5 percent of the payments made toward the penalty are credited to the contingent account and 37.5 percent credited to the deleted text begin administration accountdeleted text end new text begin trust fundnew text end .

(d) If an applicant has been overpaid unemployment benefits under the law of another state because of fraud and that state certifies that the applicant is liable to repay the unemployment benefits and requests the commissioner to recover the overpayment, the commissioner may offset from future unemployment benefits otherwise payable the amount of overpayment.

(e) new text begin Regardless of the limitations in section 268.101, subdivision 2, paragraph (e), new text end unemployment benefits paid for weeks more than four years before the date of a determination of overpayment by fraud issued under this subdivision are not considered overpaid unemployment benefits.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin The amendments to paragraph (c) are effective for any money credited on or after July 1, 2013. The amendments to paragraph (e) are effective July 1, 2012. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 268.184, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Administrative penalties.

(a) The commissioner must penalize an employer if that employer or any employee, officer, or agent of that employer, is in collusion with any applicant for the purpose of assisting the applicant to receive unemployment benefits fraudulently. The penalty is $500 or the amount of unemployment benefits determined to be overpaid, whichever is greater.

(b) The commissioner must penalize an employer if that employer or any employee, officer, or agent of that employer (1) made a false statement or representation knowing it to be false, (2) made a false statement or representation without a good faith belief as to correctness of the statement or representation, (3) knowingly failed to disclose a material fact, or (4) made an offer of employment to an applicant when, in fact, the employer had no employment availabledeleted text begin , but only if the employer's action:deleted text end new text begin .new text end

deleted text begin (i) was taken to prevent or reduce the payment of unemployment benefits to any applicant; deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii) was taken to reduce or avoid any payment required from an employer under this chapter or section 116L.20; or deleted text end

deleted text begin (iii) caused an overpayment of unemployment benefits to an applicant. deleted text end

The penalty is new text begin the greater of new text end $500, or 50 percent of the deleted text begin overpaid or reduced unemployment benefits or payment required, whichever is greater.deleted text end new text begin following resulting from the employer's action:new text end

new text begin (i) the amount of any overpaid unemployment benefits to an applicant; new text end

new text begin (ii) the amount of unemployment benefits not paid to an applicant that would otherwise have been paid; or new text end

new text begin (iii) the amount of any payment required from the employer under this chapter or section 116L.20 that was not paid. new text end

(c) The commissioner must penalize an employer if that employer failed or refused to honor a subpoena issued under section 268.105, subdivision 4, or section 268.188. The penalty is $500 and any costs of enforcing the subpoena, including attorney fees.

(d) Penalties under this subdivision new text begin and under section 268.047, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), new text end are in addition to any other penalties and subject to the same collection procedures that apply to past due taxes. Penalties must be paid within 30 calendar days of deleted text begin assessmentdeleted text end new text begin issuance of the determination of penalty new text end and credited to the deleted text begin contingent accountdeleted text end new text begin trust fundnew text end .

(e) The determination of deleted text begin thedeleted text end penalty is final unless the employer files an appeal within 20 calendar days after the sending of the determination of deleted text begin thedeleted text end penalty to the employer by mail or electronic transmission. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268.105.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2012, except the amendments to paragraph (d) are effective for penalties imposed on or after July 1, 2013. new text end

ARTICLE 2

POLICY

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.046, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Penalties; application.

(a) Any person that violates the requirements of this section and any taxpaying employer that violates subdivision 1, paragraph (b), or any nonprofit or government employer that violates subdivision 2, paragraph (b), is subject to the penalties under section 268.184, subdivision 1a. Penalties are credited to the deleted text begin administration account to be used to ensure integrity in the unemployment insurance programdeleted text end new text begin trust fundnew text end .

(b) Section 268.051, subdivision 4, does not apply to contracts under this section. This section does not limit or prevent the application of section 268.051, subdivision 4, to any other transactions or acquisitions involving the taxpaying employer. This section does not limit or prevent the application of section 268.051, subdivision 4a.

(c) An assignment of an account upon the execution of a contract under this section and a termination of a contract with the corresponding assignment of the account is not considered a separation from employment of any worker covered by the contract. Nothing under this subdivision causes the person to be liable for any amounts past due under this chapter from the taxpaying employer or the nonprofit or government employer.

(d) This section applies to, but is not limited to, persons registered under section 79.255, but does not apply to persons that obtain an exemption from registration under section 79.255, subdivision 9.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2013. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.051, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Experience rating history transfer.

(a) new text begin The experience rating history of the predecessor employer is transferred to the successor employer new text end when:

(1) a taxpaying employer acquires all of the organization, trade or business, or workforce of another taxpaying employer; and

(2) there is 25 percent or more common ownership or there is substantially common management or control between the predecessor and successordeleted text begin , the experience rating history of the predecessor employer is transferred to the successor employerdeleted text end .

(b) new text begin A portion of the experience rating history of the predecessor employer is transferred to the successor employer new text end when:

(1) a taxpaying employer acquires a portion, but less than all, of the organization, trade or business, or workforce of another taxpaying employer; and

(2) there is 25 percent or more common ownership or there is substantially common management or control between the predecessor and successor, the successor employer acquires, as of the date of acquisition, the experience rating history attributable to the portion it acquired, and the predecessor employer retains the experience rating history attributable to the portion that it has retained. If the commissioner determines that sufficient information is not available to substantiate that a distinct severable portion was acquired and to assign the appropriate distinct severable portion of the experience rating history, the commissioner must assign the successor employer that percentage of the predecessor employer's experience rating history equal to that percentage of the employment positions it has obtained, and the predecessor employer retains that percentage of the experience rating history equal to the percentage of the employment positions it has retained.

(c) The term "common ownership" for purposes of this subdivision includes ownership by a spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or first cousin, by birth or by marriage.

(d) Each successor employer that is subject to paragraph (a) or (b) must notify the commissioner of the acquisition by electronic transmission, in a format prescribed by the commissioner, within 30 calendar days of the date of acquisition. Any successor employer that fails to notify the commissioner is subject to the penalties under section 268.184, subdivision 1a, if the successor's assigned tax rate under subdivision 2 or 5 was lower than the predecessor's assigned tax rate at the time of the acquisition. Payments made toward the penalties are credited to the deleted text begin administration account to be used to ensure integrity in the unemployment insurance programdeleted text end new text begin trust fundnew text end .

(e) If the successor employer under paragraphs (a) and (b) had an experience rating at the time of the acquisition, the transferred experience rating history of the predecessor is combined with the successor's experience rating history for purposes of recomputing a tax rate.

(f) If there has been a transfer of an experience rating history under paragraph (a) or (b), employment with a predecessor employer is not considered to have been terminated if similar employment is offered by the successor employer and accepted by the employee.

(g) The commissioner, upon notification of an employer, or upon the commissioner's own motion if the employer fails to provide the required notification, must determine if an employer is a successor within the meaning of this subdivision. The commissioner must, after determining the issue of succession or nonsuccession, recompute the tax rate under subdivision 6 of all employers affected. The commissioner must send the recomputed tax rate to all affected employers by mail or electronic transmission. Any affected employer may appeal the recomputed tax rate in accordance with the procedures in subdivision 6, paragraph (c).

(h) The "experience rating history" for purposes of this subdivision and subdivision 4a means the amount of unemployment benefits paid and the taxable wages that are being used and would be used in computing the current and any future experience rating.

For purposes of this chapter, an "acquisition" means anything that results in the obtaining by the successor employer, in any way or manner, of the organization, trade or business, or workforce of the predecessor employer.

A "distinct severable portion" in paragraph (b) means a location or unit separately identifiable within the employer's wage detail report under section 268.044.

(i) Regardless of the ownership, management, or control requirements of paragraph (a), if there is an acquisition or merger of a publicly held corporation by or with another publicly held corporation the experience rating histories of the corporations are combined as of the date of acquisition or merger for the purpose of recomputing a tax rate.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2012, except that the amendments to paragraph (d) are effective July 1, 2013. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 268.051, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Tax rate for new employers.

(a) Each new taxpaying employer that does not qualify for an experience rating under subdivision 3, except new employers in a high experience rating industry, must be assigned, for a calendar year, a tax rate the higher of (1) one percent, or (2) the tax rate computed, to the nearest 1/100 of a percent, by dividing the total amount of unemployment benefits paid all applicants during the 48 calendar months ending on June 30 of the prior calendar year by the total taxable wages of all taxpaying employers during the same period, plus the applicable base tax rate and any additional assessments under subdivision 2, paragraph (c).

(b) Each new taxpaying employer in a high experience rating industry that does not qualify for an experience rating under subdivision 3, must be assigned, for a calendar year, a tax rate the higher of (1) that assigned under paragraph (a), or (2) the tax rate, computed to the nearest 1/100 of a percent, by dividing the total amount of unemployment benefits paid to all applicants from high experience rating industry employers during the 48 calendar months ending on June 30 of the prior calendar year by the total taxable wages of all high experience rating industry employers during the same period, to a maximum provided for under subdivision 3, paragraph (b), plus the applicable base tax rate and any additional assessments under subdivision 2, paragraph (c).

(c) An employer is considered to be in a high experience rating industry if:

(1) the employer is engaged in residential, commercial, or industrial construction, including general contractors;

(2) the employer is engaged in sand, gravel, or limestone mining;

(3) the employer is engaged in the manufacturing of concrete, concrete products, or asphalt; or

(4) the employer is engaged in road building, repair, or resurfacing, including bridge and tunnels and residential and commercial driveways and parking lots.

new text begin (d) Regardless of any law to the contrary, a taxpaying employer must be assigned a tax rate under this subdivision if: new text end

new text begin (1) the employer registers for a tax account under section 268.042 and for each of the five calendar quarters after registering files a "no wages paid" report on wage detail under section 268.044; or new text end

new text begin (2) the employer has filed 14 consecutive quarterly "no wages paid" reports on wage detail under section 268.044. new text end

deleted text begin (d)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end The commissioner must send to the new employer, by mail or electronic transmission, new text begin a new text end determination of tax rate deleted text begin assigneddeleted text end . An employer may appeal the determination of deleted text begin adeleted text end tax rate in accordance with the procedures in subdivision 6, paragraph (c).

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2012. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.085, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Deductible earnings.

(a) If the applicant has earnings, including holiday pay, with respect to any week, from employment, covered employment, noncovered employment, self-employment, or volunteer work, equal to or in excess of the applicant's weekly unemployment benefit amount, the applicant is ineligible for unemployment benefits for that week.

(b) If the applicant has earnings, with respect to any week, that is less than the applicant's weekly unemployment benefit amount, from employment, covered employment, noncovered employment, self-employment, or volunteer work, deleted text begin 55deleted text end new text begin 50new text end percent of the earnings are deducted from the weekly unemployment benefit amount.

(c) No deduction is made from an applicant's weekly unemployment benefit amount for earnings from service in the National Guard or a United States military reserve unit or from direct service as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance service personnel. This exception to paragraphs (a) and (b) does not apply to on-call or standby pay provided to a volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance service personnel. No deduction is made for jury duty pay or for pay as an election judge.

(d) The applicant may report deductible earnings on continued requests for unemployment benefits at the next lower whole dollar amount.

(e) Deductible earnings does not include any money considered a deductible payment under subdivision 3, but includes all compensation considered wages under section 268.035, subdivision 29, and any other compensation considered earned income under state and federal law for income tax purposes.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for deductions occurring on or after July 1, 2013. new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.18, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:

Subd. 2b.

Interest.

(a) On any unemployment benefits fraudulently obtained, and any penalty amounts assessed under subdivision 2, the commissioner must assess interest at the rate of 1-1/2 percent per month on any amount that remains unpaid beginning 30 calendar days after the date of the determination of overpayment by fraud. A determination of overpayment by fraud must state that interest will be assessed.

(b) If the determination did not state that interest will be assessed, interest is assessed beginning 30 calendar days after notification, by mail or electronic transmission, to the applicant that interest is now assessed.

(c) Interest payments under this section are credited to the deleted text begin administration accountdeleted text end new text begin trust fundnew text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for payments received on or after July 1, 2013. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.18, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Cancellation of overpayments.

(a) If unemployment benefits overpaid under subdivision 1 are not repaid or offset from subsequent unemployment benefits as provided for in subdivision 1 within six years after the date of the determination or decision holding the applicant overpaid, the commissioner must cancel the overpayment balance, and no administrative or legal proceedings may be used to enforce collection of those amounts.

(b) If unemployment benefits determined overpaid under subdivision 2 including penalties and interest are not repaid within deleted text begin 15deleted text end new text begin tennew text end years after the date of the determination of overpayment by fraud, the commissioner must cancel the overpayment balance and any penalties and interest due, and no administrative or legal proceeding may be used to enforce collection of those amounts.

(c) The commissioner may cancel at any time any overpayment, including penalties and interest, that the commissioner determines is uncollectible because of death or bankruptcy.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2012, and applies retroactively to all existing overpayments. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.192, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Agreements not allowed. new text end

new text begin An employer may not make an agreement that in exchange for the employer agreeing not to contest the payment of unemployment benefits, including agreeing not to provide information to the department, an employee will: new text end

new text begin (1) quit the employment; new text end

new text begin (2) take a leave of absence; new text end

new text begin (3) leave the employment temporarily or permanently; or new text end

new text begin (4) withdraw a grievance or appeal of a termination. new text end

new text begin An agreement that violates this subdivision has no effect under this chapter. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2012. new text end

ARTICLE 3

HOUSEKEEPING

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.035, subdivision 12d, is amended to read:

Subd. 12d.

Electronic transmission.

"Electronic transmission" means a communication new text begin that is new text end sent deleted text begin by electronic, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic or similar capabilities, and, when permitted by the commissioner, a telephone communicationdeleted text end new text begin online, by telephone, or by facsimile transmissionnew text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 268.035, subdivision 20, is amended to read:

Subd. 20.

Noncovered employment.

"Noncovered employment" means:

(1) employment for the United States government or an instrumentality thereof, including military service;

(2) employment for a state, other than Minnesota, or a political subdivision or instrumentality thereof;

(3) employment for a foreign government;

(4) employment for an instrumentality wholly owned by a foreign government, if the employment is of a character similar to that performed in foreign countries by employees of the United States government or an instrumentality thereof and the United States Secretary of State has certified that the foreign government grants an equivalent exemption to similar employment performed in the foreign country by employees of the United States government and instrumentalities thereof;

(5) employment covered under United States Code, title 45, section 351, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act;

(6) employment covered by a reciprocal arrangement between the commissioner and another state or the federal government that provides that all employment performed by an individual for an employer during the period covered by the reciprocal arrangement is considered performed entirely within another state;

(7) employment for a church or convention or association of churches, or an organization operated primarily for religious purposes that is operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches described in United States Code, title 26, section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and exempt from income tax under section 501(a);

(8) employment of a duly ordained or licensed minister of a church in the exercise of a ministry or by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by the order, for Minnesota or a political subdivision or an organization described in United States Code, title 26, section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and exempt from income tax under section 501(a);

(9) employment of an individual receiving rehabilitation of "sheltered" work in a facility conducted for the purpose of carrying out a program of rehabilitation for individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physical or mental deficiency or injury or a program providing "sheltered" work for individuals who because of an impaired physical or mental capacity cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market. This clause applies only to services performed for Minnesota or a political subdivision or an organization described in United States Code, title 26, section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and exempt from income tax under section 501(a) in a facility certified by the Rehabilitation Services Branch of the department or in a day training or habilitation program licensed by the Department of Human Services;

(10) employment of an individual receiving work relief or work training as part of an unemployment work relief or work training program assisted or financed in whole or in part by any federal agency or an agency of a state or political subdivision thereof. This clause applies only to employment for Minnesota or a political subdivision or an organization described in United States Code, title 26, section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and exempt from income tax under section 501(a). This clause does not apply to programs that require unemployment benefit coverage for the participants;

(11) employment for Minnesota or a political subdivision as an elected official, a member of a legislative body, or a member of the judiciary;

(12) employment as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or Air National Guard;

(13) employment for Minnesota, a political subdivision, or instrumentality thereof, as an employee serving only on a temporary basis in case of fire, flood, tornado, or similar emergency;

(14) employment as an election official or election worker for Minnesota or a political subdivision, but only if the compensation for that employment was less than $1,000 in a calendar year;

(15) employment for Minnesota that is a major policy-making or advisory position in the unclassified servicedeleted text begin , including those positions established under section 43A.08, subdivision 1adeleted text end ;

new text begin (16) employment for Minnesota in an unclassified position established under section 43A.08, subdivision 1a; new text end

deleted text begin (16)deleted text end new text begin (17)new text end employment for a political subdivision of Minnesota that is a nontenured major policy making or advisory position;

deleted text begin (17)deleted text end new text begin (18)new text end domestic employment in a private household, local college club, or local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority performed for a person, only if the wages paid in any calendar quarter in either the current or prior calendar year to all individuals in domestic employment totaled less than $1,000.

"Domestic employment" includes all service in the operation and maintenance of a private household, for a local college club, or local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority as distinguished from service as an employee in the pursuit of an employer's trade or business;

deleted text begin (18)deleted text end new text begin (19)new text end employment of an individual by a son, daughter, or spouse, and employment of a child under the age of 18 by the child's father or mother;

deleted text begin (19)deleted text end new text begin (20)new text end employment deleted text begin for a personal care assistance provider agency bydeleted text end new text begin of an individual who provides direct care tonew text end an immediate family member deleted text begin of a recipient who provides the direct care to the recipientdeleted text end new text begin fundednew text end through the personal care assistance program under section 256B.0659;

deleted text begin (20)deleted text end new text begin (21)new text end employment of an inmate of a custodial or penal institution;

deleted text begin (21)deleted text end new text begin (22)new text end employment for a school, college, or university by a student who is enrolled and whose primary relation to the school, college, or university is as a student. This does not include an individual whose primary relation to the school, college, or university is as an employee who also takes courses;

deleted text begin (22)deleted text end new text begin (23)new text end employment of an individual who is enrolled as a student in a full-time program at a nonprofit or public educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and has a regularly organized body of students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are carried on, taken for credit at the institution, that combines academic instruction with work experience, if the employment is an integral part of the program, and the institution has so certified to the employer, except that this clause does not apply to employment in a program established for or on behalf of an employer or group of employers;

deleted text begin (23)deleted text end new text begin (24)new text end employment of university, college, or professional school students in an internship or other training program with the city of St. Paul or the city of Minneapolis under Laws 1990, chapter 570, article 6, section 3;

deleted text begin (24)deleted text end new text begin (25)new text end employment for a hospital by a patient of the hospital. "Hospital" means an institution that has been licensed by the Department of Health as a hospital;

deleted text begin (25)deleted text end new text begin (26)new text end employment as a student nurse for a hospital or a nurses' training school by an individual who is enrolled and is regularly attending classes in an accredited nurses' training school;

deleted text begin (26)deleted text end new text begin (27)new text end employment as an intern for a hospital by an individual who has completed a four-year course in an accredited medical school;

deleted text begin (27)deleted text end new text begin (28)new text end employment as an insurance salesperson, by other than a corporate officer, if all the wages from the employment is solely by way of commission. The word "insurance" includes an annuity and an optional annuity;

deleted text begin (28)deleted text end new text begin (29)new text end employment as an officer of a township mutual insurance company or farmer's mutual insurance company operating under chapter 67A;

deleted text begin (29)deleted text end new text begin (30)new text end employment of a corporate officer, if the officer directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary or holding company, owns 25 percent or more of the employer corporation, and employment of a member of a limited liability company, if the member directly or indirectly, including through a subsidiary or holding company, owns 25 percent or more of the employer limited liability company;

deleted text begin (30)deleted text end new text begin (31)new text end employment as a real estate salesperson, by other than a corporate officer, if all the wages from the employment is solely by way of commission;

deleted text begin (31)deleted text end new text begin (32)new text end employment as a direct seller as defined in United States Code, title 26, section 3508;

deleted text begin (32)deleted text end new text begin (33)new text end employment of an individual under the age of 18 in the delivery or distribution of newspapers or shopping news, not including delivery or distribution to any point for subsequent delivery or distribution;

deleted text begin (33)deleted text end new text begin (34)new text end casual employment performed for an individual, other than domestic employment under clause deleted text begin (17)deleted text end new text begin (18)new text end , that does not promote or advance that employer's trade or business;

deleted text begin (34)deleted text end new text begin (35)new text end employment in "agricultural employment" unless considered "covered agricultural employment" under subdivision 11; or

deleted text begin (35)deleted text end new text begin (36)new text end if employment during one-half or more of any pay period was covered employment, all the employment for the pay period is considered covered employment; but if during more than one-half of any pay period the employment was noncovered employment, then all of the employment for the pay period is considered noncovered employment. "Pay period" means a period of not more than a calendar month for which a payment or compensation is ordinarily made to the employee by the employer.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.042, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Employer registration.

(a) Each employer must, upon or before the submission of its first wage detail report under section 268.044, register with the commissioner for a tax account or a reimbursable account, by electronic transmission in a format prescribed by the commissioner. The employer must provide all required information for registration, including the actual physical street and city address of the employer.

(b) Within 30 calendar days, each employer must notify the commissioner by electronic transmission, in a format prescribed, of a change in legal entity, of the transfer, sale, or acquisition of a business conducted in Minnesota, in whole or in part, if the transaction results in the creation of a new or different employer or affects the establishment of employer accounts, the assignment of tax rates, or the transfer of experience rating history.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision 3, any person that is or becomes an employer subject to the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Law deleted text begin because of the application of section 268.035, subdivision 20, clause (14), (17), or (34),deleted text end within any calendar year is considered to be subject to this chapter the entire calendar year.

(d) Within 30 calendar days of the termination of business, an employer that has been assigned a tax account or reimbursable account must notify the commissioner by electronic transmission, in a format prescribed by the commissioner, new text begin if new text end that deleted text begin thedeleted text end employer deleted text begin no longer has employees anddeleted text end does not intend or expect to pay wages to any employees in new text begin covered employment during the current or new text end the next calendar year deleted text begin and into the foreseeable futuredeleted text end . Upon notification, the employer is no longer required to file wage detail reports under section 268.044, subdivision 1, paragraph (d)new text begin , and the employer's account must be terminatednew text end .

(e) An employer that has new text begin its account new text end terminated deleted text begin businessdeleted text end regains its previous tax account under section 268.045, with the experience rating history of that account, if the employer again commences business and new text begin again pays wages in covered employment new text end if:

(1) less than 14 calendar quarters have elapsed in which no wages were paid for covered employment;

(2) the experience rating history regained contains taxable wages; and

(3) the experience rating history has not been transferred to a successor under section 268.051, subdivision 4.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.044, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Wage detail report.

(a) Each employer must submit, under the account provided for in section 268.045 or 268.046, a quarterly wage detail report by electronic transmission, in a format prescribed by the commissioner. The report must include for each employee in covered employment during the calendar quarter, the employee's name, Social Security number, the total wages paid to the employee, and total number of paid hours worked. For employees exempt from the definition of employee in section 177.23, subdivision 7, clause (6), the employer must report 40 hours worked for each week any duties were performed by a full-time employee and must report a reasonable estimate of the hours worked for each week duties were performed by a part-time employee. In addition, the wage detail report must include the number of employees employed during the payroll period that includes the 12th day of each calendar month and, if required by the commissioner, the report must be broken down by business location and, if section 268.046, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), or subdivision 2, paragraph (b), applies, by separate unit. The report is due and must be received by the commissioner on or before the last day of the month following the end of the calendar quarter. The commissioner may delay the due date on a specific calendar quarter in the event the department is unable to accept wage detail reports electronically.

(b) The employer may report the wages paid to the next lower whole dollar amount.

(c) An employer need not include the name of the employee or other required information on the wage detail report if disclosure is specifically exempted from being reported by federal law.

(d) A wage detail report must be submitted for each calendar quarter even though no wages were paid, unless the employer has notified the commissioner, under section 268.042, subdivision 1, deleted text begin paragraph (c),deleted text end of termination of business.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.069, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Unemployment benefits paid from state funds.

Unemployment benefits are paid from state funds and are not considered paid from any special insurance plan, nor as paid by an employer. An application for unemployment benefits is not considered a claim against an employer but is considered a request for unemployment benefits from the trust fund. The commissioner has the responsibility for the proper payment of unemployment benefits regardless of the level of interest or participation by an applicant or an employer in any determination or appeal. An applicant's entitlement to unemployment benefits must be determined based upon that information available deleted text begin anddeleted text end new text begin without regard to a burden of proof. new text end Any agreement between an applicant and an employer is not binding on the commissioner in determining an applicant's entitlement. There is no presumption of entitlement or nonentitlement to unemployment benefits.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 268.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Benefit account requirements.

(a) Unless paragraph (b) applies, to establish a benefit account an applicant must have total wage credits in the applicant's four quarter base period of at least: (1) $2,400; or (2) 5.3 percent of the state's average annual wage rounded down to the next lower $100, whichever is higher.

(b) To establish a new benefit account within 52 calendar weeks following the expiration of the benefit year on a prior benefit account, an applicant must have performed services in covered employmentnew text begin and have been paid wagesnew text end in deleted text begin adeleted text end new text begin one or more completednew text end calendar deleted text begin quarterdeleted text end new text begin quartersnew text end that started after the effective date of the prior benefit account. The wages paid for those services must be at least enough to meet the requirements of paragraph (a)deleted text begin , and have been reported on wage detail under section 268.044deleted text end .new text begin A benefit account under this paragraph may not be established effective earlier than the Sunday following the end of the most recent completed calendar quarter in which the requirements of paragraph (a) were met.new text end One of the reasons for this paragraph is to prevent an applicant from establishing a second benefit account as a result of one loss of employment.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.085, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Athletes and coaches.

new text begin (a) new text end Unemployment benefits must not be paid to an applicant on the basis of any wage credits from employment that consists of coaching or participating in sports or athletic events or training or preparing to participate for any week during the period between two successive sport seasons, or similar periods, if:

(1) the applicant was so employed in the prior season or similar period, and

(2) there is a reasonable assurance that the applicant will be so employed in the following season or similar period.

new text begin (b) This subdivision applies to a coach employed by an educational institution whose only employment with the educational institution is as a coach. Subdivision 7 applies to a coach who has other employment with an educational institution in addition to coaching at the educational institution. Employment with multiple educational institutions, or employment coaching multiple sports, must be aggregated for purposes of application of this subdivision. new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.085, subdivision 15, is amended to read:

Subd. 15.

Available for suitable employment defined.

(a) "Available for suitable employment" means an applicant is ready deleted text begin anddeleted text end new text begin ,new text end willingnew text begin , and ablenew text end to accept suitable employment. The attachment to the work force must be genuine. An applicant may restrict availability to suitable employment, but there must be no other restrictions, either self-imposed or created by circumstances, temporary or permanent, that prevent accepting suitable employment.

(b) Unless the applicant is in reemployment assistance training, to be considered "available for suitable employment," a student who has regularly scheduled classes must be willing to discontinue classes to accept suitable employment when:

(1) class attendance restricts the applicant from accepting suitable employment; and

(2) the applicant is unable to change the scheduled class or make other arrangements that excuse the applicant from attending class.

(c) An applicant who is absent from the labor market area for personal reasons, other than to search for work, is not "available for suitable employment."

(d) An applicant who has restrictions on the hours of the day or days of the week that the applicant can or will work, that are not normal for the applicant's usual occupation or other suitable employment, is not "available for suitable employment." An applicant must be available for daytime employment, if suitable employment is performed during the daytime, even though the applicant previously worked the night shift.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.095, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Employment misconduct defined.

(a) Employment misconduct means any intentional, negligent, or indifferent conduct, on the job or off the job that displays clearly:

(1) a serious violation of the standards of behavior the employer has the right to reasonably expect of the employee; or

(2) a substantial lack of concern for the employment.

(b) Regardless of paragraph (a), the following is not employment misconduct:

(1) conduct that was a consequence of the applicant's mental illness or impairment;

(2) conduct that was a consequence of the applicant's inefficiency or inadvertence;

(3) simple unsatisfactory conduct;

(4) conduct an average reasonable employee would have engaged in under the circumstances;

(5) conduct that was a consequence of the applicant's inability or incapacity;

(6) good faith errors in judgment if judgment was required;

(7) absence because of illness or injury of the applicant, with proper notice to the employer;

(8) absence, with proper notice to the employer, in order to provide necessary care because of the illness, injury, or disability of an immediate family member of the applicant;

(9) conduct that was a consequence of the applicant's chemical dependency, unless the applicant was previously diagnosed chemically dependent or had treatment for chemical dependency, and since that diagnosis or treatment has failed to make consistent efforts to control the chemical dependency; or

(10) conduct that was a consequence of the applicant, or an immediate family member of the applicant, being a victim of domestic abuse as defined under section 518B.01. Domestic abuse must be shown as provided for in subdivision 1, clause (9).

(c) Regardless of paragraph (b), clause (9), conduct in violation of sections 169A.20, 169A.31, or 169A.50 to 169A.53 that interferes with or adversely affects the employment is employment misconduct.

(d) If the conduct for which the applicant was discharged involved only a single incident, that is an important fact that must be considered in deciding whether the conduct rises to the level of employment misconduct under paragraph (a).new text begin This paragraph does not require that a determination under section 268.101 or decision under section 268.105 contain a specific acknowledgment or explanation that this paragraph was considered.new text end

(e) The definition of employment misconduct provided by this subdivision is exclusive and no other definition applies.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.103, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

In commissioner's discretion.

(a) The commissioner may allow an appeal to be filed by electronic transmission. If the commissioner allows an appeal to be filed by electronic transmission, that must be clearly set out on the determination or decision subject to appeal.

(b) The commissioner may restrict the manner and format under which an appeal by electronic transmission may be filed. Restrictions to a specific deleted text begin telephonedeleted text end new text begin facsimile transmissionnew text end number or electronic address must be clearly set out on the determination or decision subject to appeal.

(c) All information requested by the commissioner when an appeal is filed by electronic transmission must be supplied or the communication does not constitute an appeal.

(d) Subject to subdivision 2, this section applies to requests for reconsideration under section 268.105, subdivision 2.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 268.115, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

The terms deleted text begin useddeleted text end in this deleted text begin sectiondeleted text end new text begin subdivisionnew text end havenew text begin , for purposes of the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Law,new text end the following meaning:

(1) "Extended unemployment benefit period" means a period that lasts for a minimum of 13 weeks and that:

(i) begins with the third week after there is a state "on" indicator; and

(ii) ends with the third week after there is a state "off" indicator.

No extended unemployment benefit period may begin before the 14th week following the end of a prior extended unemployment benefit period.

(2) There is a "state 'on' indicator" for a week if:

(i) for that week and the prior 12 weeks, the rate of insured unemployment:

(a) equaled or exceeded 120 percent of the average of the rates for the corresponding 13-week period ending in each of the prior two calendar years, and was five percent or more; or

(b) equaled or exceeded six percent; or

(ii) The United States Secretary of Labor determines that the average rate of seasonally adjusted total unemployment in Minnesota for the most recent three months for which data is published equals or exceeds 6.5 percent and this rate equals or exceeds 110 percent of the rate of the corresponding three-month period in either of the prior two calendar years.

(3) There is a "state 'off' indicator" for a week ifdeleted text begin :deleted text end

deleted text begin (i) under clause (2)(i), for that week and the prior 12 weeks, the requirements for a "state 'on' indicator" are not satisfied; or deleted text end

deleted text begin (ii)deleted text end under clause (2)deleted text begin (ii)deleted text end the requirements for a "state 'on' indicator" are not satisfied.

(4) "Rate of insured unemployment," means the percentage derived by dividing the average weekly number of applicants filing continued requests for regular unemployment benefits in the most recent 13-week period by the average monthly covered employment for the first four of the most recent six completed calendar quarters before the end of that 13-week period.

(5) "Regular unemployment benefits" means unemployment benefits available to an applicant other than extended unemployment benefits and additional unemployment benefits.

(6) "Eligibility period" for an applicant means the period consisting of the weeks remaining in the applicant's benefit year within the extended unemployment benefit period and, if the benefit year ends within the extended unemployment benefit period, any weeks in the extended unemployment benefit period.

(7) "Exhaustee" means an applicant who, in the eligibility period:

(i) the benefit year having not expired has received the maximum amount of regular unemployment benefits that were available under section 268.07; deleted text begin ordeleted text end

(ii) the benefit year having expired, has insufficient wage credits to establish a new benefit account; deleted text begin anddeleted text end new text begin ornew text end

new text begin (iii) new text end has no right to any type of unemployment benefits under any other state or federal laws and is not receiving unemployment benefits under the law of Canada.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.18, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

Court fees; collection fees.

(a) If the commissioner is required to pay any court fees in an attempt to enforce collection of overpaid unemployment benefits, penalties, or interest, the commissioner may add the amount of the court fees to the total amount due.

(b) If an applicant who has been determined overpaid unemployment benefits because of fraud seeks to have any portion of the debt discharged under the federal bankruptcy code, and the commissioner files an objection in bankruptcy court to the discharge, the commissioner may add the commissioner's cost of any court fees to the debt if the bankruptcy court does not discharge the debt.

(c) If the Internal Revenue Service assesses the commissioner a fee for offsetting from a federal tax refund the amount of any deleted text begin frauddeleted text end overpayment, including penalties and interest, the amount of the fee may be added to the total amount due. The offset amount must be put in the trust fund and that amount credited to the total amount due from the applicant.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 268.184, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Notification and misreporting penalties.

(a) If the commissioner finds that any employer or agent of an employer failed to meet the notification requirements of section 268.051, subdivision 4, the employer must be assessed a penalty of $5,000 or two percent of the first full quarterly payroll acquired, whichever is higher. Payroll is wages paid as defined in section 268.035, subdivision 30. The penalty under this paragraph must be canceled if the commissioner determines that the failure occurred because of ignorance or inadvertence.

(b) If the commissioner finds that any individual advised an employer to violate the employer's notification requirements under section 268.051, subdivision 4, the individual, and that individual's employer, must each be assessed the penalty in paragraph (a).

(c) If the commissioner finds that any person or agent of a person violated the reporting requirements of section deleted text begin 268.0435 ordeleted text end 268.046, the person must be assessed a penalty of $5,000 or two percent of the quarterly payroll reported in violation of section deleted text begin 268.0435 ordeleted text end 268.046, whichever is higher. Payroll is wages paid as defined in section 268.035, subdivision 30.

(d) Penalties under this subdivision are in addition to any other penalties and subject to the same collection procedures that apply to past due amounts from an employer. Penalties must be paid within 30 calendar days after sending of the determination of penalty.

(e) The determination of a penalty is final unless the person assessed files an appeal within 20 calendar days after sending of the determination of the penalty by mail or electronic transmission. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268.105.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 268.194, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

There is established as a special state trust fund, separate and apart from all other public money or funds of this state, an unemployment insurance trust fund, that is administered by the commissioner exclusively for the payment of unemployment benefits. This trust fund consists of:

(1) all taxes collected;

(2) interest earned upon any money in the trust fund;

(3) reimbursements paid by nonprofit organizations and the state and political subdivisions;

(4) tax rate buydown payments under section 268.051, subdivision 7;

(5) any money received as a loan from the federal unemployment trust fund in accordance with United States Code, title 42, section 1321, of the Social Security Act;

(6) any other money received under a reciprocal unemployment benefit arrangement with the federal government or any other state;

(7) money recovered on overpaid unemployment benefits except, if allowed by federal law, five percent of any recovered amount is credited to the administration account;

(8) all money deleted text begin recovered on losses sustained by the trust funddeleted text end new text begin credited to the account under this chapternew text end ;

deleted text begin (9) all money received from the contingent account under section 268.199; deleted text end

deleted text begin (10)deleted text end new text begin (9)new text end all money credited to the account of Minnesota in the federal unemployment trust fund under United States Code, title 42, section 1103, of the Social Security Act, also known as the Reed Act; and

deleted text begin (11)deleted text end new text begin (10)new text end all money received for the trust fund from any other source.

Sec. 15.

new text begin REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION. new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall: new text end

new text begin (1) change "determination of a penalty" and "determination of the penalty" to "determination of penalty" wherever it appears in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268; new text end

new text begin (2) change "the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services" to "the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement" wherever it appears in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268; new text end

new text begin (3) make any cross-reference changes needed resulting from the renumbering in section 2. new text end

Sec. 16.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Rules, part 3315.0555, subparts 2, 3, and 4, new text end new text begin are repealed. 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 to all pending cases. new text end

Sec. 17.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Unless otherwise specified, this article is effective July 1, 2012. new text end

Presented to the governor April 18, 2012

Signed by the governor April 20, 2012, 5:10 p.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes