Bill Text: IA HF533 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Enrolled


Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to disqualification from eligibility for unemployment benefits and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 143.) Effective 7-2-17.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-04-13 - Signed by Governor. H.J. 1009. [HF533 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2017-HF533-Enrolled.html

House File 533 - Enrolled




                              HOUSE FILE       
                              BY  COMMITTEE ON LABOR

                              (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 143)
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                                   A BILL FOR
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                                         House File 533

                             AN ACT
 RELATING TO DISQUALIFICATION FROM ELIGIBILITY FOR
    UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE
    PROVISIONS.

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    Section 1.  Section 96.5, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2017,
 is amended to read as follows:
    An individual shall be disqualified for benefits, regardless
 of the source of the individual's wage credits:
    Sec. 2.  Section 96.5, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2017,
 is amended to read as follows:
    a.  The individual shall be disqualified for benefits
  disqualification shall continue until the individual has worked
 in and has been paid wages for insured work equal to ten times
 the individual's weekly benefit amount, provided the individual
 is otherwise eligible.
    Sec. 3.  Section 96.5, Code 2017, is amended by adding the
 following new subsections:
    NEW SUBSECTION.  11.  Incarceration ==== disqualified.
    a.  If the department finds that the individual became
 separated from employment due to the individual's incarceration
 in a jail, municipal holding facility, or correctional
 institution or facility, unless the department finds all of the
 following:
    (1)  The individual notified the employer that the
 individual would be absent from work due to the individual's
 incarceration prior to any such absence.
    (2)  Criminal charges relating to the incarceration were
 not filed against the individual, all criminal charges against
 the individual relating to the incarceration were dismissed,
 or the individual was found not guilty of all criminal charges
 relating to the incarceration.
    (3)  The individual reported back to the employer within two
 work days of the individual's release from incarceration and
 offered services.
    (4)  The employer rejected the individual's offer of
 services.
    b.  A disqualification under this subsection shall continue
 until the individual has worked in and has been paid wages for
 insured work equal to ten times the individual's weekly benefit
 amount, provided the individual is otherwise eligible.
    NEW SUBSECTION.  12.  Supplemental part=time employment.  If
 the department finds that an individual is disqualified for
 benefits under subsection 1 or 2 based on the nature of the
 individual's separation from supplemental part=time employment,
 all wages paid by the supplemental part=time employer to that
 individual in any quarter which are chargeable following a
 disqualifying separation under subsection 1 or 2 shall not be
 considered wages credited to the individual until such time
 as the individual meets the conditions of requalification
 as provided for in this chapter, or until the period of
 disqualification provided for in this chapter has elapsed.
    Sec. 4.  Section 96.6, subsection 2, Code 2017, is amended
 to read as follows:
    2.  Initial determination.  A representative designated by
 the director shall promptly notify all interested parties to
 the claim of its filing, and the parties have ten days from
 the date of mailing the notice of the filing of the claim by
 ordinary mail to the last known address to protest payment of
 benefits to the claimant. The representative shall promptly
 examine the claim and any protest, take the initiative to
 ascertain relevant information concerning the claim, and, on
 the basis of the facts found by the representative, shall
 determine whether or not the claim is valid, the week with
 respect to which benefits shall commence, the weekly benefit
 amount payable and its maximum duration, and whether any
 disqualification shall be imposed. The claimant has the burden
 of proving that the claimant meets the basic eligibility
 conditions of section 96.4. The employer has the burden of
 proving that the claimant is disqualified for benefits pursuant
 to section 96.5, except as provided by this subsection. The
 claimant has the initial burden to produce evidence showing
 that the claimant is not disqualified for benefits in cases
 involving section 96.5, subsection subsections 10 and 11, and
 has the burden of proving that a voluntary quit pursuant to
 section 96.5, subsection 1, was for good cause attributable
 to the employer and that the claimant is not disqualified
 for benefits in cases involving section 96.5, subsection 1,
 paragraphs "a" through "h". Unless the claimant or other
 interested party, after notification or within ten calendar
 days after notification was mailed to the claimant's last
 known address, files an appeal from the decision, the decision
 is final and benefits shall be paid or denied in accordance
 with the decision. If an administrative law judge affirms a
 decision of the representative, or the appeal board affirms a
 decision of the administrative law judge allowing benefits,
 the benefits shall be paid regardless of any appeal which is
 thereafter taken, but if the decision is finally reversed,
 no employer's account shall be charged with benefits so paid
 and this relief from charges shall apply to both contributory
 and reimbursable employers, notwithstanding section 96.8,
 subsection 5.
    Sec. 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect July 2, 2017.


                                                                                            LINDA UPMEYER


                                                                                            JACK WHITVER


                                                                                            CARMINE BOAL


                                                                                            TERRY E. BRANSTA

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