Bill Text: GA HB500 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Employment Readiness Program for Georgia's unemployed; establish

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-07-01 - Effective Date [HB500 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB500-Introduced.html

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11 LC 35 2195

House Bill 500

By: Representatives Pruett of the 144th, England of the 108th, Hembree of the 67th, Harden of the 28th, Carter of the 175th, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Article 7 of Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to unemployment compensation benefits, so as to establish the Employment Readiness Program for Georgia's unemployed; to provide for the administration of the program by the Department of Labor; to provide for participation in the Employment Readiness Program by persons receiving extended unemployment compensation benefits; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Article 7 of Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to unemployment compensation benefits, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"34-8-200.

(a) The Commissioner shall institute the Employment Readiness Program for claimants receiving extended unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to this article. The program shall require participation in the Georgia Work Ready initiative established in Chapter 14 of this title. Such program shall be developed and implemented in cooperation with the Governor's Office of Workforce Development and the Georgia Workforce Investment Board. The program shall be administered by the department provided funding is made available for such purposes.

(b) The Employment Readiness Program for Georgia's unemployed shall be funded by federal funds received by this state for implementation of the Georgia Work Ready initiative and such other funding sources, including grants, donations, and appropriations, that may become available to the department.

(c) The Employment Readiness Program shall have such requirements for implementation and administration as the Commissioner deems appropriate; provided, however, the program shall include the following:

(1) As provided in this Code section, participation in the Employment Readiness Program shall be a condition of a claimant's weekly reporting requirements;

(2) Participation in the Employment Readiness Program shall only be a condition of a claimant's weekly reporting requirements when adequate opportunities for participation in the program are reasonably available to a claimant;

(3) Following the date for receipt of extended benefits, as indicated by the department through sufficient notice to the claimant, a claimant shall have, as a condition of the claimant's weekly reporting requirements, two weeks to enroll in the Georgia Work Ready initiative;

(4) A claimant for unemployment compensation benefits shall not be required to participate in the Georgia Work Ready initiative until he or she receives such benefits for an extended period of time. The extended benefit period shall be designated by the Commissioner in accordance with federal rules, regulations, and law;

(5) The program shall require participation in the initial assessment and such evaluation shall be completed within a reasonable time as established by the Commissioner;

(6) Following completion of the initial assessment, continuous participation in the Georgia Work Ready initiative, including attendance in educational courses, shall be required as a condition of a claimant's weekly reporting requirements. Continuous participation shall be required until a claimant obtains a Work Ready Certificate indicating that he or she has successfully completed the Georgia Work Ready program. The department shall designate the acceptable educational courses, which may be made available electronically, and shall also prescribe a reasonable time, place, and manner for participation by claimants;

(7) The Commissioner shall provide for emergency exceptions to the attendance, participation, and completion requirements of this Code section for good cause demonstrated by the claimant, including, but not limited to, illness, disability, hospitalization, and death of an immediate family member; and

(8) The program and courses required by this Code section shall be offered to claimants free of charge.

(d) The department shall be authorized to employ and contract with other individuals and organizations as needed to assist in executing the department's responsibilities, provided that funds are available for such expenditures and such expenditures are allowable under federal law.

(e) All state departments, institutions, agencies, commissions, councils, authorities, boards, bureaus, or other entities of the state and subdivisions of the state shall provide all information and support as required by the department to perform its duties under this Code section.

(f) The Commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations for purposes of implementing the requirements of this Code section."

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2011, and shall only apply to claimants filing for unemployment compensation benefits on or after such date.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.