House File 2244 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2244 BY GERHOLD A BILL FOR An Act relating to waiver or alteration of work search 1 requirements for unemployment benefits due to a short-term 2 temporary layoff relating to tuck-pointing. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 6200YH (2) 90 je/js

H.F. 2244 Section 1. Section 96.4, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 1 2024, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the 3 contrary, the department may establish by rule a process to 4 waive or alter the work search requirements of this subsection 5 for a claim for benefits if an individual has a reasonable 6 expectation that the individual will be returning to employment 7 and is attached to a regular job or industry or a member in 8 good standing of a union therein eligible for referral for 9 employment. To be considered attached to a regular job or 10 industry, an individual must be on a short-term temporary 11 layoff. If work is not available at the conclusion of the 12 layoff period due to short-term circumstances beyond the 13 employer’s control, the employer may request an extension 14 of the waiver or alteration for up to two weeks from the 15 department. For purposes of this paragraph, “short-term 16 temporary layoff” means a layoff period of sixteen weeks or less 17 due to seasonal weather conditions that impact the ability to 18 perform work with a specific return-to-work date specified by 19 the employer related to highway any of the following: 20 (1) Highway construction, repair, or maintenance with a 21 specific return-to-work date verified by the employer . 22 (2) Tuck-pointing. 23 EXPLANATION 24 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 25 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 26 Under current law, the department of workforce development 27 may establish by rule a process to waive or alter the work 28 search requirements for a claim for unemployment benefits if 29 an individual has a reasonable expectation that the individual 30 will be returning to employment and is attached to a regular 31 job or industry or a member in good standing of a union therein 32 eligible for referral for employment. To be considered 33 attached to a regular job or industry, an individual must be on 34 a short-term temporary layoff, defined as a layoff period of 16 35 -1- LSB 6200YH (2) 90 je/js 1/ 2

H.F. 2244 weeks or less, with a specific return-to-work date verified by 1 the employer, due to seasonal weather conditions that impact 2 the ability of the individual to perform work related to 3 highway construction, repair, or maintenance. This bill adds 4 tuck-pointing as a form of work that qualifies for a short-term 5 temporary layoff under the same circumstances as work related 6 to highway construction, repair, or maintenance. 7 -2- LSB 6200YH (2) 90 je/js 2/ 2