Bill Text: MS SB2124 | 2021 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Mississippi Department of Employment Security; revise various provisions regarding authority of.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-03-17 - Approved by Governor [SB2124 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2021-SB2124-Enrolled.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2021 Regular Session

To: Economic and Workforce Development

By: Senator(s) Parker

Senate Bill 2124

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "UNEMPLOYMENT" TO EXCLUDE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS FROM EMPLOYERS IF THOSE PAYMENTS EQUAL THEIR REGULAR SALARY AND INDIVIDUALS ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE; TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "WAGES" TO INCLUDE PAYMENTS FROM EMPLOYERS THAT ARE IN LIEU OF THE EMPLOYEE'S REGULAR WAGES; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-365, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY TO DESIGNATE A DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN EMPLOYER REPORT ON CONTRIBUTIONS DUE IS INCORRECT OR INSUFFICIENT, MAKE AN ASSESSMENT ON BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE, ASSESS THE CONTRIBUTIONS DUE, AND ASSESS A PENALTY IF ONE IS NEEDED FOR NONCOMPLIANT EMPLOYERS; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-363, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY TO ABATE INTEREST ACCRUED ON PAST-DUE CONTRIBUTIONS OR OVERPAYMENTS WHEN NEGOTIATING THE SETTLEMENTS OF SUCH PAST-DUE AMOUNTS; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-389, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT TAX OFFSETS ARE FROM BOTH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY; TO AMEND SECTION 71-5-355, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT A PERSON WHO ACQUIRES A BUSINESS SOLELY TO OBTAIN A LOWER RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS SHALL HAVE A 2% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 71-5-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     71-5-11.  As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     A.  "Base period" means the first four (4) of the last five (5) completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual's benefit year.

     B.  "Benefit year" with respect to any individual means the period beginning with the first day of the first week with respect to which he or she first files a valid claim for benefits, and ending with the day preceding the same day of the same month in the next calendar year; and, thereafter, the period beginning with the first day of the first week with respect to which he or she next files his or her valid claim for benefits, and ending with the day preceding the same day of the same month in the next calendar year.  Any claim for benefits made in accordance with Section 71-5-515 shall be deemed to be a "valid claim" for purposes of this subsection if the individual has been paid the wages for insured work required under Section 71-5-511(e).

     C.  "Contributions" means the money payments to the State Unemployment Compensation Fund required by this chapter.

     D.  "Calendar quarter" means the period of three (3) consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31.

     E.  "Department" or "commission" means the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Office of the Governor.

     F.  "Executive director" means the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Office of the Governor, appointed under Section 71-5-107.

     G.  "Employing unit" means this state or another state or any instrumentalities or any political subdivisions thereof or any of their instrumentalities or any instrumentality of more than one (1) of the foregoing or any instrumentality of any of the foregoing and one or more other states or political subdivisions, any Indian tribe as defined in Section 3306(u) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), which includes any subdivision, subsidiary or business enterprise wholly owned by such Indian tribe, any individual or type of organization, including any partnership, association, trust, estate, joint-stock company, insurance company, or corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, trustee or successor thereof, or the legal representative of a deceased person, which has or had in its employ one or more individuals performing services for it within this state.  All individuals performing services within this state for any employing unit which maintains two (2) or more separate establishments within this state shall be deemed to be employed by a single employing unit for all the purposes of this chapter.  Each individual employed to perform or to assist in performing the work of any agent or employee of an employing unit shall be deemed to be employed by such employing unit for all purposes of this chapter, whether such individual was hired or paid directly by such employing unit or by such agent or employee, provided the employing unit had actual or constructive knowledge of the work.  All individuals performing services in the employ of an elected fee-paid county official, other than those related by blood or marriage within the third degree computed by the rule of the civil law to such fee-paid county official, shall be deemed to be employed by such county as the employing unit for all the purposes of this chapter.  For purposes of defining an "employing unit" which shall pay contributions on remuneration paid to individuals, if two (2) or more related corporations concurrently employ the same individual and compensate such individual through a common paymaster which is one (1) of such corporations, then each such corporation shall be considered to have paid as remuneration to such individual only the amounts actually disbursed by it to such individual and shall not be considered to have paid as remuneration to such individual such amounts actually disbursed to such individual by another of such corporations.

     H.  "Employer" means:

          (1)  Any employing unit which,

              (a)  In any calendar quarter in either the current or preceding calendar year paid for service in employment wages of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) or more, except as provided in paragraph (9) of this subsection, or

              (b)  For some portion of a day in each of twenty (20) different calendar weeks, whether or not such weeks were consecutive, in either the current or the preceding calendar year had in employment at least one (1) individual (irrespective of whether the same individual was in employment in each such day), except as provided in paragraph (9) of this subsection;

          (2)  Any employing unit for which service in employment, as defined in subsection I(3) of this section, is performed;

          (3)  Any employing unit for which service in employment, as defined in subsection I(4) of this section, is performed;

          (4)  (a)  Any employing unit for which agricultural labor, as defined in subsection I(6) of this section, is performed;

              (b)  Any employing unit for which domestic service in employment, as defined in subsection I(7) of this section, is performed;

          (5)  Any individual or employing unit which acquired the organization, trade, business, or substantially all the assets thereof, of another which at the time of such acquisition was an employer subject to this chapter;

          (6)  Any individual or employing unit which acquired its organization, trade, business, or substantially all the assets thereof, from another employing unit, if the employment record of the acquiring individual or employing unit subsequent to such acquisition, together with the employment record of the acquired organization, trade, or business prior to such acquisition, both within the same calendar year, would be sufficient to constitute an employing unit as an employer subject to this chapter under paragraph (1) or (3) of this subsection;

          (7)  Any employing unit which, having become an employer under paragraph (1), (3), (5) or (6) of this subsection or under any other provisions of this chapter, has not, under Section 71-5-361, ceased to be an employer subject to this chapter;

          (8)  For the effective period of its election pursuant to Section 71-5-361(3), any other employing unit which has elected to become subject to this chapter;

          (9)  (a)  In determining whether or not an employing unit for which service other than domestic service is also performed is an employer under paragraph (1) or (4)(a) of this subsection, the wages earned or the employment of an employee performing domestic service, shall not be taken into account;

              (b)  In determining whether or not an employing unit for which service other than agricultural labor is also performed is an employer under paragraph (1) or (4)(b) of this subsection, the wages earned or the employment of an employee performing services in agricultural labor, shall not be taken into account.  If an employing unit is determined an employer of agricultural labor, such employing unit shall be determined an employer for purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection;

          (10)  All entities utilizing the services of any employee leasing firm shall be considered the employer of the individuals leased from the employee leasing firm.  Temporary help firms shall be considered the employer of the individuals they provide to perform services for other individuals or organizations.

     I.  "Employment" means and includes:

          (1)  Any service performed, which was employment as defined in this section and, subject to the other provisions of this subsection, including service in interstate commerce, performed for wages or under any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied.

          (2)  Services performed for remuneration for a principal:

              (a)  As an agent-driver or commission-driver engaged in distributing meat products, vegetable products, fruit products, bakery products, beverages (other than milk), or laundry or dry-cleaning services;

              (b)  As a traveling or city salesman, other than as an agent-driver or commission-driver, engaged upon a full-time basis in the solicitation on behalf of, and the transmission to, a principal (except for sideline sales activities on behalf of some other person) of orders from wholesalers, retailers, contractors, or operator of hotels, restaurants, or other similar establishments for merchandise for resale or supplies for use in their business operations.

     However, for purposes of this subsection, the term "employment" shall include services described in subsection I(2)(a) and (b) of this section, only if:

                   (i)  The contract of service contemplates that substantially all of the services are to be performed personally by such individual;

                   (ii)  The individual does not have a substantial investment in facilities used in connection with the performance of the services (other than in facilities for transportation); and

                   (iii)  The services are not in the nature of a single transaction that is not part of a continuing relationship with the person for whom the services are performed.

          (3)  Service performed in the employ of this state or any of its instrumentalities or any political subdivision thereof or any of its instrumentalities or any instrumentality of more than one (1) of the foregoing or any instrumentality of any of the foregoing and one or more other states or political subdivisions or any Indian tribe as defined in Section 3306(u) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), which includes any subdivision, subsidiary or business enterprise wholly owned by such Indian tribe; however, such service is excluded from "employment" as defined in the Federal Unemployment Tax Act by Section 3306(c)(7) of that act and is not excluded from "employment" under subsection I(5) of this section.

          (4)  (a)  Services performed in the employ of a religious, charitable, educational, or other organization, but only if the service is excluded from "employment" as defined in the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 USCS Section 3306(c)(8), and

              (b)  The organization had four (4) or more individuals in employment for some portion of a day in each of twenty (20) different weeks, whether or not such weeks were consecutive, within the current or preceding calendar year, regardless of whether they were employed at the same moment of time.

          (5)  For the purposes of subsection I(3) and (4) of this section, the term "employment" does not apply to service performed:

              (a)  In the employ of:

                   (i)  A church or convention or association of churches; or

                   (ii)  An organization which is operated primarily for religious purposes and which is operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches; or

              (b)  By a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church in the exercise of his or her ministry, or by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by such order; or

              (c)  In the employ of a governmental entity referred to in subsection I(3), if such service is performed by an individual in the exercise of duties:

                   (i)  As an elected official;

                   (ii)  As a member of a legislative body, or a member of the judiciary, of a state or political subdivision or a member of an Indian tribal council;

                   (iii)  As a member of the State National Guard or Air National Guard;

                   (iv)  As an employee serving on a temporary basis in case of fire, storm, snow, earthquake, flood or similar emergency;

                   (v)  In a position which, under or pursuant to the laws of this state or laws of an Indian tribe, is designated as:

                         1.  A major nontenured policy-making or advisory position, or

                         2.  A policy-making or advisory position the performance of the duties of which ordinarily does not require more than eight (8) hours per week; or

              (d)  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 providing remunerative work for individuals who because of their impaired physical or mental capacity cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market, by an individual receiving such rehabilitation or remunerative work; or

              (e)  By an inmate of a custodial or penal institution; or

              (f)  As part of an unemployment work-relief or work-training program assisted or financed, in whole or in part, by any federal agency or agency of a state or political subdivision thereof or of an Indian tribe, by an individual receiving such work relief or work training, unless coverage of such service is required by federal law or regulation.

          (6)  Service performed by an individual in agricultural labor as defined in paragraph (15)(a) of this subsection when:

              (a)  Such service is performed for a person who:

                   (i)  During any calendar quarter in either the current or the preceding calendar year paid remuneration in cash of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) or more to individuals employed in agricultural labor, or

                   (ii)  For some portion of a day in each of twenty (20) different calendar weeks, whether or not such weeks were consecutive, in either the current or the preceding calendar year, employed in agricultural labor ten (10) or more individuals, regardless of whether they were employed at the same moment of time.

              (b)  For the purposes of subsection I(6) any individual who is a member of a crew furnished by a crew leader to perform service in agricultural labor for any other person shall be treated as an employee of such crew leader:

                   (i)  If such crew leader holds a valid certificate of registration under the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963; or substantially all the members of such crew operate or maintain tractors, mechanized harvesting or crop dusting equipment, or any other mechanized equipment, which is provided by such crew leader; and

                   (ii)  If such individual is not an employee of such other person within the meaning of subsection I(1).

              (c)  For the purpose of subsection I(6), in the case of any individual who is furnished by a crew leader to perform service in agricultural labor for any other person and who is not treated as an employee of such crew leader under paragraph (6)(b) of this subsection:

                   (i)  Such other person and not the crew leader shall be treated as the employer of such individual; and

                   (ii)  Such other person shall be treated as having paid cash remuneration to such individual in an amount equal to the amount of cash remuneration paid to such individual by the crew leader (either on his or her own behalf or on behalf of such other person) for the service in agricultural labor performed for such other person.

              (d)  For the purposes of subsection I(6) the term "crew leader" means an individual who:

                   (i)  Furnishes individuals to perform service in agricultural labor for any other person;

                   (ii)  Pays (either on his or her own behalf or on behalf of such other person) the individuals so furnished by him or her for the service in agricultural labor performed by them; and

                   (iii)  Has not entered into a written agreement with such other person under which such individual is designated as an employee of such other person.

          (7)  The term "employment" shall include domestic service in a private home, local college club or local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority performed for an employing unit which paid cash remuneration of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more in any calendar quarter in the current or the preceding calendar year to individuals employed in such domestic service.  For the purpose of this subsection, the term "employment" does not apply to service performed as a "sitter" at a hospital in the employ of an individual.

          (8)  An individual's entire service, performed within or both within and without this state, if:

              (a)  The service is localized in this state; or

              (b)  The service is not localized in any state but some of the service is performed in this state; and

                   (i)  The base of operations or, if there is no base of operations, the place from which such service is directed or controlled is in this state; or

                   (ii)  The base of operations or place from which such service is directed or controlled is not in any state in which some part of the service is performed, but the individual's residence is in this state.

          (9)  Services not covered under paragraph (8) of this subsection and performed entirely without this state, with respect to no part of which contributions are required and paid under an unemployment compensation law of any other state or of the federal government, shall be deemed to be employment subject to this chapter if the individual performing such services is a resident of this state and the department approves the election of the employing unit for whom such services are performed that the entire service of such individual shall be deemed to be employment subject to this chapter.

          (10)  Service shall be deemed to be localized within a state if:

              (a)  The service is performed entirely within such state; or

              (b)  The service is performed both within and without such state, but the service performed without such state is incidental to the individual's service within the state; for example, is temporary or transitory in nature or consists of isolated transactions.

          (11)  The services of an individual who is a citizen of the United States, performed outside the United States (except in Canada), in the employ of an American employer (other than service which is deemed "employment" under the provisions of paragraph (8), (9) or (10) of this subsection or the parallel provisions of another state's law), if:

              (a)  The employer's principal place of business in the United States is located in this state; or

              (b)  The employer has no place of business in the United States; but

                   (i)  The employer is an individual who is a resident of this state; or

                   (ii)  The employer is a corporation which is organized under the laws of this state; or

                   (iii)  The employer is a partnership or a trust and the number of the partners or trustees who are residents of this state is greater than the number who are residents of any one (1) other state; or

              (c)  None of the criteria of subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph are met but the employer has elected coverage in this state or, the employer having failed to elect coverage in any state, the individual has filed a claim for benefits, based on such service, under the law of this state; or

              (d)  An "American employer," for purposes of this paragraph, means a person who is:

                   (i)  An individual who is a resident of the United States; or

                   (ii)  A partnership if two-thirds (2/3) or more of the partners are residents of the United States; or

                   (iii)  A trust if all of the trustees are residents of the United States; or

                   (iv)  A corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state.

          (12)  All services performed by an officer or member of the crew of an American vessel on or in connection with such vessel, if the operating office from which the operations of such vessel operating on navigable waters within, or within and without, the United States are ordinarily and regularly supervised, managed, directed and controlled, is within this state, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection I(8).

          (13)  Service with respect to which a tax is required to be paid under any federal law imposing a tax against which credit may be taken for contributions required to be paid into a state unemployment fund, or which as a condition for full tax credit against the tax imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 USCS Section 3301 et seq., is required to be covered under this chapter, notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection.

          (14)  Services performed by an individual for wages shall be deemed to be employment subject to this chapter unless and until it is shown to the satisfaction of the department that such individual has been and will continue to be free from control and direction over the performance of such services both under his or her contract of service and in fact; and the relationship of employer and employee shall be determined in accordance with the principles of the common law governing the relation of master and servant.

          (15)  The term "employment" shall not include:

              (a)  Agricultural labor, except as provided in subsection I(6) of this section.  The term "agricultural labor" includes all services performed:

                   (i)  On a farm or in a forest in the employ of any employing unit in connection with cultivating the soil, in connection with cutting, planting, deadening, marking or otherwise improving timber, or in connection with raising or harvesting any agricultural or horticultural commodity, including the raising, shearing, feeding, caring for, training, and management of livestock, bees, poultry, fur-bearing animals and wildlife;

                   (ii)  In the employ of the owner or tenant or other operator of a farm, in connection with the operation, management, conservation, improvement or maintenance of such farm and its tools and equipment, or in salvaging timber or clearing land of brush and other debris left by a hurricane, if the major part of such service is performed on a farm;

                   (iii)  In connection with the production or harvesting of naval stores products or any commodity defined in the Federal Agricultural Marketing Act, 12 USCS Section 1141j(g), or in connection with the raising or harvesting of mushrooms, or in connection with the ginning of cotton, or in connection with the operation or maintenance of ditches, canals, reservoirs, or waterways not owned or operated for profit, used exclusively for supplying and storing water for farming purposes;

                   (iv)  (A)  In the employ of the operator of a farm in handling, planting, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, storing or delivering to storage or to market or to a carrier for transportation to market, in its unmanufactured state, any agricultural or horticultural commodity; but only if such operator produced more than one-half (1/2) of the commodity with respect to which such service is performed;

                        (B)  In the employ of a group of operators of farms (or a cooperative organization of which such operators are members) in the performance of service described in subitem (A), but only if such operators produced more than one-half (1/2) of the commodity with respect to which such service is performed;

                        (C)  The provisions of subitems (A) and (B) shall not be deemed to be applicable with respect to service performed in connection with commercial canning or commercial freezing or in connection with any agricultural or horticultural commodity after its delivery to a terminal market for distribution for consumption;

                   (v)  On a farm operated for profit if such service is not in the course of the employer's trade or business;

                   (vi)  As used in paragraph (15)(a) of this subsection, the term "farm" includes stock, dairy, poultry, fruit, fur-bearing animals, and truck farms, plantations, ranches, nurseries, ranges, greenhouses, or other similar structures used primarily for the raising of agricultural or horticultural commodities, and orchards.

              (b)  Domestic service in a private home, local college club, or local chapter of a college fraternity or sorority, except as provided in subsection I(7) of this section, or service performed as a "sitter" at a hospital in the employ of an individual.

              (c)  Casual labor not in the usual course of the employing unit's trade or business.

              (d)  Service performed by an individual in the employ of his or her son, daughter, or spouse, and service performed by a child under the age of twenty-one (21) in the employ of his or her father or mother.

              (e)  Service performed in the employ of the United States government or of an instrumentality wholly owned by the United States; except that if the Congress of the United States shall permit states to require any instrumentalities of the United States to make payments into an unemployment fund under a state unemployment compensation act, then to the extent permitted by Congress and from and after the date as of which such permission becomes effective, all of the provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to such instrumentalities and to services performed by employees for such instrumentalities in the same manner, to the same extent, and on the same terms as to all other employers and employing units.  If this state should not be certified under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 USCS Section 3304(c), for any year, then the payment required by such instrumentality with respect to such year shall be deemed to have been erroneously collected and shall be refunded by the department from the fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 71-5-383.

              (f)  Service performed in the employ of an "employer" as defined by the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, 45 USCS Section 351(a), or as an "employee representative" as defined by the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, 45 USCS Section 351(f), and service with respect to which unemployment compensation is payable under an unemployment compensation system for maritime employees, or under any other unemployment compensation system established by an act of Congress; however, the department is authorized and directed to enter into agreements with the proper agencies under such act or acts of Congress, which agreements shall become effective ten (10) days after publication thereof in the manner provided in Section 71-5-117 for general rules, to provide reciprocal treatment to individuals who have, after acquiring potential rights to benefits under this chapter, acquired rights to unemployment compensation under such act or acts of Congress or who have, after acquiring potential rights to unemployment compensation under such act or acts of Congress, acquired rights to benefits under this chapter.

              (g)  Service performed in any calendar quarter in the employ of any organization exempt from income tax under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 USCS Section 501(a) (other than an organization described in 26 USCS Section 401(a)), or exempt from income tax under 26 USCS Section 521 if the remuneration for such service is less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00).

              (h)  Service performed in the employ of a school, college, or university if such service is performed:

                   (i)  By a student who is enrolled and is regularly attending classes at such school, college or university, or

                   (ii)  By the spouse of such a student if such spouse is advised, at the time such spouse commences to perform such service, that

                        (A)  The employment of such spouse to perform such service is provided under a program to provide financial assistance to such student by such school, college, or university, and

                        (B)  Such employment will not be covered by any program of unemployment insurance.

              (i)  Service performed by an individual under the age of twenty-two (22) who is enrolled at a nonprofit or public educational institution which normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly organized body of students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are carried on, as a student in a full-time program taken for credit at such institution, which combines academic instruction with work experience, if such service is an integral part of such program and such institution has so certified to the employer, except that this subparagraph shall not apply to service performed in a program established for or on behalf of an employer or group of employers.

              (j)  Service performed in the employ of a hospital, if such service is performed by a patient of the hospital, as defined in subsection M of this section.

              (k)  Service performed as a student nurse in the employ of a hospital or a nurses' training school by an individual who is enrolled and is regularly attending classes in a nurses' training school chartered or approved pursuant to state law; and services performed as an intern in the employ of a hospital by an individual who has completed a four-year course in a medical school chartered or approved pursuant to state law.

              (l)  Service performed by an individual as an insurance agent or as an insurance solicitor, if all such service performed by such individual is performed for remuneration solely by way of commission.

              (m)  Service performed by an individual in the delivery or distribution of newspapers or shopping news, not including delivery or distribution to any point for subsequent delivery or distribution, except those employed by political subdivisions, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations and Indian tribes, as defined by this chapter, or any other entities for which coverage is required by federal statute and regulation.

              (n)  If the services performed during one-half (1/2) or more of any pay period by an employee for the employing unit employing him or her constitute employment, all the services of such employee for such period shall be deemed to be employment; but if the services performed during more than one-half (1/2) of any such pay period by an employee for the employing unit employing him or her do not constitute employment, then none of the services of such employee for such period shall be deemed to be employment.  As used in this subsection, the term "pay period" means a period (of not more than thirty-one (31) consecutive days) for which a payment of remuneration is ordinarily made to the employee by the employing unit employing him or her.

              (o)  Service performed by a barber or beautician whose work station is leased to him or her by the owner of the shop in which he or she works and who is compensated directly by the patrons he or she serves and who is free from direction and control by the lessor.

              (p)  Service performed by a "direct seller" if:

                   (i)  Such person is engaged in the trade or business of selling (or soliciting the sale of) consumer products to any buyer on a buy-sell basis, a deposit-commission basis, or any similar basis which the department prescribes by regulations, for resale (by the buyer or any other person) in the home or otherwise than in a permanent retail establishment; or such person is engaged in the trade or business of selling (or soliciting the sale of) consumer products in the home or otherwise than in a permanent retail establishment;

                   (ii)  Substantially all the remuneration (whether or not paid in cash) for the performance of the services described in item (i) of this subparagraph is directly related to sales or other output (including the performance of services) rather than to the number of hours worked; and

                   (iii)  The services performed by the person are performed pursuant to a written contract between such person and the person for whom the services are performed and such contract provides that the person will not be treated as an employee with respect to such services for federal tax purposes.

     J.  "Employment office" means a free public employment office or branch thereof, operated by this state or maintained as a part of the state controlled system of public employment offices.

     K.  "Public employment service" means the operation of a program that offers free placement and referral services to applicants and employers, including job development.

     L.  "Fund" means the Unemployment Compensation Fund established by this chapter, to which all contributions required and from which all benefits provided under this chapter shall be paid.

     M.  "Hospital" means an institution which has been licensed, certified, or approved by the State Department of Health as a hospital.

     N.  "Institution of higher learning," for the purposes of this section, means an educational institution which:

          (1)  Admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate;

          (2)  Is legally authorized in this state to provide a program of education beyond high school;

          (3)  Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's or higher degree, or provides a program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, a program of postgraduate or postdoctoral studies, or a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation;

          (4)  Is a public or other nonprofit institution;

          (5)  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this subsection, all colleges and universities in this state are institutions of higher learning for purposes of this section.

     O.  "Re-employment assistance" means money payments payable to an individual as provided in this chapter and in accordance with Section 3304(a)(4) and 3306(h) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and Section 303(a)(5) of the Social Security Act, with respect to his or her unemployment through no fault of his or her own.  Wherever the terms "benefits" or "unemployment benefits" appear in this chapter, they shall mean re-employment assistance.

     P.  (1)  "State" includes, in addition to the states of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

          (2)  The term "United States" when used in a geographical sense includes the states, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

          (3)  The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection P, as including the Virgin Islands, shall become effective on the day after the day on which the United States Secretary of Labor approves for the first time under Section 3304(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 an unemployment compensation law submitted to the secretary by the Virgin Islands for such approval.

     Q.  "Unemployment."

          (1)  An individual shall be deemed "unemployed" in any week during which he or she performs no services and with respect to which no wages are payable to him or her, or in any week of less than full-time work if the wages payable to him or her with respect to such week are less than his or her weekly benefit amount as computed and adjusted in Section 71-5-505.  This definition shall exclude individuals receiving voluntary payments from employers, from any source, that are in lieu of the worker's regular wages.  However, individuals receiving voluntary payments of less than their set full weekly wage, as well as individuals who do not work a specified number of hours each week resulting in inconsistent weekly wages, and who are receiving voluntary payments for partial wage substitution, may be considered "unemployed," but would be required to report the gross amount of the voluntary payments to be treated as wages so the appropriate deductions to the weekly benefit amount can be made.  The department shall prescribe regulations applicable to unemployed individuals, making such distinctions in the procedure as to total unemployment, part-total unemployment, partial unemployment of individuals attached to their regular jobs, and other forms of short-time work, as the department deems necessary.

          (2)  An individual's week of total unemployment shall be deemed to commence only after his registration * * * at with an employment office, except as the department may by regulation otherwise prescribe.

          (3)  Unemployment shall not include administrative leave for any week with respect to which:

              (a)  An employer has designated their employee as being on official administrative leave;

              (b)  The administrative leave is for a specified period of time;

              (c)  There is no apparent permanent job separation; and

              (d)  The employee has received compensation equal to his or her standard compensation.

          (4)  If the individual on official administrative leave, as designated by the employer, does not receive full compensation in line with his or her standard hours or salary, the individual may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits as partially unemployed for the wages they are missing.

          (5)  Any individual on official administrative leave is required to report all compensation received.

     R.  (1)  "Wages" means all remuneration for personal services, including commissions and bonuses and the cash value of all remuneration in any medium other than cash, except that "wages," for purposes of determining employer's coverage and payment of contributions for agricultural and domestic service means cash remuneration only.  Wages shall include payments from employers, from any source, and for any reason, that are in lieu of the employee's regular wages.  The reasonable cash value of remuneration in any medium other than cash shall be estimated and determined in accordance with rules prescribed by the department; however, that the term "wages" shall not include:

              (a)  The amount of any payment made to, or on behalf of, an employee under a plan or system established by an employer which makes provision for his or her employees generally or for a class or classes of his or her employees (including any amount paid by an employer for insurance or annuities, or into a fund, to provide for any such payment), on account of:

                   (i)  Retirement, or

                   (ii)  Sickness or accident disability, or

                   (iii)  Medical or hospitalization expenses in connection with sickness or actual disability, or

                   (iv)  Death, provided the employee:

                        (A)  Has not the option to receive, instead of provision for such death benefit, any part of such payment or, if such death benefit is insured, any part of the premiums (or contributions to premiums) paid by his or her employer, and

                        (B)  Has not the right, under the provisions of the plan or system or policy of insurance providing for such death benefit, to assign such benefit or to receive a cash consideration in lieu of such benefit, either upon his or her withdrawal from the plan or system providing for such benefit or upon termination of such plan or system or policy of insurance or of his or her employment with such employer;

              (b)  Dismissal payments which the employer is not legally required to make;

              (c)  Payment by an employer (without deduction from the remuneration of an employee) of the tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, 26 USCS Section 3101;

              (d)  From and after January 1, 1992, the amount of any payment made to or on behalf of an employee for a "cafeteria" plan, which meets the following requirements:

                   (i)  Qualifies under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code;

                   (ii)  Covers only employees;

                   (iii)  Covers only noncash benefits;

                   (iv)  Does not include deferred compensation plans.

          (2)  [Not enacted].

     S.  "Week" means calendar week or such period of seven (7) consecutive days as the department may by regulation prescribe.  The department may by regulation prescribe that a week shall be deemed to be in, within, or during any benefit year which includes any part of such week.

     T.  "Insured work" means "employment" for "employers."

     U.  The term "includes" and "including," when used in a definition contained in this chapter, shall not be deemed to exclude other things otherwise within the meaning of the term defined.

     V.  "Employee leasing arrangement" means any agreement between an employee leasing firm and a client, whereby specified client responsibilities such as payment of wages, reporting of wages for unemployment insurance purposes, payment of unemployment insurance contributions and other such administrative duties are to be performed by an employee leasing firm, on an ongoing basis.

     W.  "Employee leasing firm" means any entity which provides specified duties for a client company such as payment of wages, reporting of wages for unemployment insurance purposes, payment of unemployment insurance contributions and other administrative duties, in connection with the client's employees, that are directed and controlled by the client and that are providing ongoing services for the client.

     X.  (1)  "Temporary help firm" means an entity which hires its own employees and provides those employees to other individuals or organizations to perform some service, to support or supplement the existing workforce in special situations such as employee absences, temporary skill shortages, seasonal workloads and special assignments and projects, with the expectation that the worker's position will be terminated upon the completion of the specified task or function.

          (2)  "Temporary employee" means an employee assigned to work for the clients of a temporary help firm.

     Y.  For the purposes of this chapter, the term "notice" shall include any official communication, statement or other correspondence required under the administration of this chapter, and sent by the department through the United States Postal Service or electronic or digital transfer, via modem or the Internet.

     SECTION 2.  Section 71-5-365, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     71-5-365.  If any employer fails to make and file any report as and when required by the terms and provisions of this chapter or by any rule or regulation of the commission for the purpose of determining the amount of contributions due by him or her under this chapter, or if any report which has been filed is deemed by the executive director or his or her designee within the department to be incorrect or insufficient, and such employer, after having been given notice by the executive director or his or her designee within the department to file such report, or a corrected or sufficient report, as the case may be, shall fail to file such report within fifteen (15) days after the date of such notice, the executive director or his or her designee within the department may (a) determine the amount of contributions due from such noncompliant employer on the basis of * * * such the best information * * * as that may be readily available to * * * him the department, which * * * said determination shall be prima facie correct, (b) assess such noncompliant employer with the amount of contribution so determined as due, to which amount may be added and assessed by the executive director or his or her designee within the department in his or her discretion, as damages, in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of * * * said the assessed amount, and (c) immediately give notice to such noncompliant employer of such determination, assessment, and * * * damages penalties, if any, added and assessed, demanding payment of same together with interest, as herein provided, on the amount of contributions owed from the date when same were due and payable.  Such determination and assessment by the executive director or his or her designee within the department shall be final at the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice thereof demanding payment, unless:

          (a)  Such employer shall have filed with the department a written protest and petition for a hearing, specifying his or her objections thereto.  Upon receipt of such petition within the fifteen (15) days allowed, the department shall fix the time and place for a hearing and shall notify the petitioner thereof.  At any hearing held before the department as herein provided, evidence may be offered to support such determination and assessment or to prove that it is incorrect, and the commission shall have all the power provided in Sections 71-5-137 and 71-5-139.  Immediately after such hearing a final decision in the matter shall be made by the commission, and any contributions or deficiencies in contributions found and determined by the commission to be due shall be assessed and paid, together with interest, within fifteen (15) days after notice of such final decision and assessment, and demand for payment thereof by the department shall have been sent to such employer.

          (b)  The department, in its discretion, determines on the basis of information submitted by the employer that such assessment should be amended and adjusted to reflect the correct amount of taxes.

     Sixty (60) days after the due date of the contributions, together with interest and damages, or upon issuance of a warrant, whichever occurs first, the department, in its discretion, may assess an additional sum not exceeding one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the unpaid contributions due as * * * damages penalties for failure to pay.

     SECTION 3.  Section 71-5-363, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     71-5-363.  (1)  Contributions unpaid on the date on which they are due and payable shall bear interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month from and after such date until payment plus accrued interest is received by the * * * commission department, provided that the * * * commission department may prescribe fair and reasonable general rules pursuant to which such interest shall not accrue during the first calendar year that any employer is subject to this chapter. Interest collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the Special Employment Security Administration Fund established by Section 71-5-114.

     (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the executive director or his or her designee within the department shall have the discretion, subject only to federal laws and regulations, to abate interest accrued on past-due contributions or overpayments, in part or in full, when negotiating the settlements of past-due amounts owed to the agency.

     SECTION 4.  Section 71-5-389, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     71-5-389.  (1)  For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed by this section:

          (a)  "Claimant agency" means the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

          (b)  "Debtor" means any individual, corporation or partnership owing money or having a delinquent account with any claimant agency, which obligation has not been adjudicated satisfied by court order, set aside by court order, or discharged in bankruptcy.

          (c)  "Debt" means any sum due and owing any claimant agency, including costs, court costs, fines, penalties and interest which have accrued through contract, subrogation, tort, operation of law, or any other legal theory regardless of whether there is an outstanding judgment for that sum which is legally collectible and for which a collection effort has been or is being made.

          (d)  "Department" or "Department of Revenue," or "Revenue" means the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi.

          (e)  "Refund" means the Mississippi income tax refund or federal income tax refund which the department determines to be due any individual taxpayer, corporation or partnership.

          (f)  "Treasury" means the United States Department of the Treasury. 

     (2)  The collection remedy authorized by this section is in addition to and is not substitution for any other remedy available by law.

     (3)  (a)  A claimant agency may submit debts in excess of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) owed to it to the department for collection through setoff, under the procedure established by this section, except in cases where the validity of the debt is legitimately in dispute, an alternate means of collection is pending and believed to be adequate, or such collection would result in a loss of federal funds or federal assistance.

          (b)  Upon the request of a claimant agency, the department or, if applicable, Treasury shall set off any refund, as defined herein, against the sum certified by the claimant agency as provided in this section.

     (4)  (a)  Within the time frame specified by the department and/or Treasury, a claimant agency seeking to collect a debt through setoff shall supply the information necessary to identify each debtor whose refund is sought to be set off and certify the amount of debt or debts owed by each such debtor.

          (b)  If a debtor identified by a claimant agency is determined by the department and/or Treasury to be entitled to a refund of at least Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00), the department or, if applicable, Treasury shall transfer an amount equal to the refund owed, not to exceed the amount of the claimed debt certified, to the claimant agency.  The Department of Revenue or, if applicable, Treasury shall send the excess amount to the debtor within a reasonable time after such excess is determined.  At the time of the transfer of funds to a claimant agency pursuant to this paragraph (b), the Department of Revenue or, if applicable, Treasury shall notify the taxpayer or taxpayers whose refund is sought to be set off that the transfer has been made.  Such notice shall clearly set forth the name of the debtor, the manner in which the debt arose, the amount of the claimed debt, the transfer of funds to the claimant agency pursuant to this paragraph (b) and the intention to set off the refund against the debt, the amount of the refund in excess of the claimed debt, the taxpayer's opportunity to give written notice to contest the setoff within thirty (30) days of the date of mailing of the notice, the name and mailing address of the claimant agency to which the application for such a hearing must be sent, and the fact that the failure to apply for such a hearing, in writing, within the thirty-day period will be deemed a waiver of the opportunity to contest the setoff.  In the case of a joint return or a joint refund, the notice shall also state the name of the taxpayer named in the return, if any, against whom no debt is claimed, the fact that a debt is not claimed against such taxpayer, the fact that such taxpayer is entitled to receive a refund if it is due him or her regardless of the debt asserted against his or her spouse, and that in order to obtain a refund due him or her such taxpayer must apply in writing for a hearing with the claimant agency named in the notice within thirty (30) days of the date of the mailing of the notice.  If a taxpayer fails to apply in writing for such a hearing within thirty (30) days of the mailing of such notice, he or she will have waived his or her opportunity to contest the setoff.

          (c)  Upon receipt of funds transferred from the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection, the claimant agency shall deposit and hold such funds in an escrow account until a final determination of the validity of the debt.

          (d)  The claimant agency shall pay the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury a fee, not to exceed Seventeen Dollars ($17.00) in each case in which a tax refund is identified as being available for offset.  Such fees shall be deposited by the Department of Revenue into a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury, out of which the Legislature shall appropriate monies to defray expenses of the Department of Revenue in employing personnel to administer the provisions of this section.

     (5)  (a)  When the claimant agency receives a protest or an application in writing from a taxpayer within thirty (30) days of the notice issued by the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury, the claimant agency shall set a date to hear the protest and give notice to the taxpayer through the United States Postal Service or electronic digital transfer of the date so set.  The time and place of such hearing shall be designated in such notice and the date set shall not be less than fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice.  If, at the hearing, the sum asserted as due and owing is found not to be correct, an adjustment to the claim may be made.  The claimant agency shall give notice to the debtor of its final determination as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection.

          (b)  No issues shall be reconsidered at the hearing which have been previously litigated.

          (c)  If any debtor is dissatisfied with the final determination made at the hearing by the claimant agency, he or she may appeal the final determination to the circuit court of the county in which the main office of the claimant agency is located by filing notice of appeal with the administrative head of the claimant agency and with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the appeal shall be taken within thirty (30) days from the date the notice of final determination was given by the claimant agency.

     (6)  (a)  Upon final determination of the amount of the debt due and owing by means of hearing or by the taxpayer's default through failure to comply with timely request for review, the claimant agency shall remove the amount of the debt due and owing from the escrow account and credit such amount to the debtor's obligation.

          (b)  Upon transfer of the debt due and owing from the escrow account to the credit of the debtor's account, the claimant agency shall notify the debtor in writing of the finalization of the setoff.  Such notice shall include a final accounting if the refund which was set off, including the amount of the refund to which the debtor was entitled * * * prior to before the setoff, the amount of the debt due and owing, the amount of the collection fee paid to the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury, the amount of the refund in excess of the debt which was returned to the debtor by the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury, and the amount of the funds transferred to the claimant agency in excess of the debt determined to be due and owing at a hearing, if such a hearing was held.  At such time, the claimant agency shall refund to the debtor the amount of the claimed debt originally certified and transferred to it by the Department of Revenue in excess of the amount of debt finally found to be due and owing.

     (7)  (a)  Notwithstanding the provision that prohibits disclosure by the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury of the contents of taxpayer records or information and notwithstanding any other confidentiality statute, the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury may provide to a claimant agency all information necessary to accomplish and effectuate the intent of the section.

          (b)  The information obtained by claimant agency from the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury in accordance with the provisions of this section shall retain its confidentiality and shall only be used by a claimant agency in the pursuit of its debt collection duties and practices; and any employee or prior employee of any claimant agency who unlawfully discloses any such information for any other purpose, except as specifically authorized by law, shall be subject to the same penalties specified by law for unauthorized confidential information by an agent or employee of the Department of Revenue and/or Treasury.

     SECTION 5.  Section 71-5-355, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     71-5-355.  (1)  As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

          (a)  "Tax year" means any period beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of a year.

          (b)  "Computation date" means June 30 of any calendar year immediately preceding the tax year during which the particular contribution rates are effective.

          (c)  "Effective date" means January 1 of the tax year.

          (d)  Except as hereinafter provided, "payroll" means the total of all wages paid for employment by an employer as defined in Section 71-5-11, subsection H, plus the total of all remuneration paid by such employer excluded from the definition of wages by Section 71-5-351.  For the computation of modified rates, "payroll" means the total of all wages paid for employment by an employer as defined in Section 71-5-11, subsection H.

          (e)  For the computation of modified rates, "eligible employer" means an employer whose experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits throughout the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date, except that any employer who has not been subject to the Mississippi Employment Security Law for a period of time sufficient to meet the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month requirement shall be an eligible employer if his or her experience-rating record has been chargeable throughout not less than the twelve (12) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date.  No employer shall be considered eligible for a contribution rate less than five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) with respect to any tax year, who has failed to file any two (2) quarterly reports within the qualifying period by September 30 following the computation date.  No employer or employing unit shall be eligible for a contribution rate of less than five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) for the tax year in which the employing unit is found by the department to be in violation of Section 71-5-19(2) or (3) and for the next two (2) succeeding tax years.  No representative of such employing unit who was a party to a violation as described in Section 71-5-19(2) or (3), if such representative was or is an employing unit in this state, shall be eligible for a contribution rate of less than five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) for the tax year in which such violation was detected by the department and for the next two (2) succeeding tax years.

          (f)  With respect to any tax year, "reserve ratio" means the ratio which the total amount available for the payment of benefits in the Unemployment Compensation Fund, excluding any amount which has been credited to the account of this state under Section 903 of the Social Security Act, as amended, and which has been appropriated for the expenses of administration pursuant to Section 71-5-457 whether or not withdrawn from such account, on October 31 (close of business) of each calendar year bears to the aggregate of the taxable payrolls of all employers for the twelve (12) calendar months ending on June 30 next preceding.

          (g)  "Modified rates" means the rates of employer unemployment insurance contributions determined under the provisions of this chapter and the rates of newly subject employers, as provided in Section 71-5-353.

          (h)  For the computation of modified rates, "qualifying period" means a period of not less than the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar months ending on the computation date throughout which an employer's experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits; except that with respect to any eligible employer who has not been subject to this article for a period of time sufficient to meet the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month requirement, "qualifying period" means the period ending on the computation date throughout which his or her experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits, but in no event less than the twelve (12) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date throughout which his or her experience-rating record has been so chargeable.

          (i)  The "exposure criterion" (EC) is defined as the cash balance of the Unemployment Compensation Fund which is available for the payment of benefits as of November 16 of each calendar year or the next working day if November 16 falls on a holiday or a weekend, divided by the total wages, exclusive of wages paid by all state agencies, all political subdivisions, reimbursable nonprofit corporations, and tax-exempt public service employment, for the twelve-month period ending June 30 immediately preceding such date.  The EC shall be computed to four (4) decimal places and rounded up if any fraction remains.

          (j)  The "cost rate criterion" (CRC) is defined as follows:  Beginning with January 1974, the benefits paid for the twelve-month period ending December 1974 are summed and divided by the total wages for the twelve-month period ending on June 30, 1975.  Similar ratios are computed by subtracting the earliest month's benefit payments and adding the benefits of the next month in the sequence and dividing each sum of twelve (12) months' benefits by the total wages for the twelve-month period ending on the June 30 which is nearest to the final month of the period used to compute the numerator.  If December is the final month of the period used to compute the numerator, then the twelve-month period ending the following June 30 will be used for the denominator.  Benefits and total wages used in the computation of the cost rate criterion shall exclude all benefits and total wages applicable to state agencies, political subdivisions, reimbursable nonprofit corporations, and tax-exempt PSE employment.

     The CRC shall be computed as the average for the highest monthly value of the cost rate criterion computations during each of the economic cycles since the calendar year 1974 as defined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.  The CRC shall be computed to four (4) decimal places and any remainder shall be rounded up.

     The CRC shall be adjusted only through annual computations and additions of future economic cycles.

          (k)  "Size of fund index" (SOFI) is defined as the ratio of the exposure criterion (EC) to the cost rate criterion (CRC).  The target size of fund index will be fixed at 1.0.  If the insured unemployment rate (IUR) exceeds a four and five-tenths percent (4.5%) average for the most recent completed July to June period, the target SOFI will be .8 and will remain at that level until the computed SOFI (the average exposure criterion of the current year and the preceding year divided by the average cost rate criterion) equals 1.0 or the average IUR falls to four and five-tenths percent (4.5%) or less for any period July to June.  However, if the IUR falls below two and five-tenths percent (2.5%) for any period July to June the target SOFI shall be 1.2 until such time as the computed SOFI is equal to or greater than 1.0 or the IUR is equal to or greater than two and five-tenths percent (2.5%), at which point the target SOFI shall return to 1.0.

          (l)  No employer's unemployment contribution general experience rate plus individual unemployment experience rate shall exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%).  Accrual rules shall apply for purposes of computing contribution rates including associated functions.

          (m)  The term "general experience rate" has the same meaning as the minimum tax rate.

     (2)  Modified rates:

          (a)  For any tax year, when the reserve ratio on the preceding November 16, in the case of any tax year, equals or exceeds three percent (3%), the modified rates, as hereinafter prescribed, shall be in effect.  In computation of this reserve ratio, any remainder shall be rounded down.

          (b)  Modified rates shall be determined for the tax year for each eligible employer on the basis of his or her experience-rating record in the following manner:

              (i)  The department shall maintain an experience-rating record for each employer.  Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to grant any employer or individuals performing services for him or her any prior claim or rights to the amounts paid by the employer into the fund.

              (ii)  Benefits paid to an eligible individual shall be charged against the experience-rating record of his or her base period employers in the proportion to which the wages paid by each base period employer bears to the total wages paid to the individual by all the base period employers, provided that benefits shall not be charged to an employer's experience-rating record if the department finds that the individual:

                   1.  Voluntarily left the employ of such employer without good cause attributable to the employer or to accept other work;

                   2.  Was discharged by such employer for misconduct connected with his or her work;

                   3.  Refused an offer of suitable work by such employer without good cause, and the department further finds that such benefits are based on wages for employment for such employer prior to such voluntary leaving, discharge or refusal of suitable work, as the case may be;

                   4.  Had base period wages which included wages for previously uncovered services as defined in Section 71-5-511(e) to the extent that the Unemployment Compensation Fund is reimbursed for such benefits pursuant to Section 121 of Public Law 94-566;

                   5.  Extended benefits paid under the provisions of Section 71-5-541 which are not reimbursable from federal funds shall be charged to the experience-rating record of base period employers;

                   6.  Is still working for such employer on a regular part-time basis under the same employment conditions as hired.  Provided, however, that benefits shall be charged against an employer if an eligible individual is paid benefits who is still working for such employer on a part-time "as-needed" basis;

                   7.  Was hired to replace a United States serviceman or servicewoman called into active duty and was laid off upon the return to work by that serviceman or servicewoman, unless such employer is a state agency or other political subdivision or instrumentality of the state;

                   8.  Was paid benefits during any week while in training with the approval of the department, under the provisions of Section 71-5-513B, or for any week while in training approved under Section 236(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, under the provisions of Section 71-5-513C;

                   9.  Is not required to serve the one-week waiting period as described in Section 71-5-505(2).  In that event, only the benefits paid in lieu of the waiting period week may be noncharged; or

                   10.  Was paid benefits as a result of a fraudulent claim, provided notification was made to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security in writing or by email by the employer, within ten (10) days of the mailing of the notice of claim filed to the employer's last-known address.

              (iii)  Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, an employer shall not be noncharged when the department finds that the employer or the employer's agent of record was at fault for failing to respond timely or adequately to the request of the department for information relating to an unemployment claim that was subsequently determined to be improperly paid, unless the employer or the employer's agent of record shows good cause for having failed to respond timely or adequately to the request of the department for information.  For purposes of this subparagraph "good cause" means an event that prevents the employer or employer's agent of record from timely responding, and includes a natural disaster, emergency or similar event, or an illness on the part of the employer, the employer's agent of record, or their staff charged with responding to such inquiries when there is no other individual who has the knowledge or ability to respond.  Any agency error that resulted in a delay in, or the failure to deliver notice to, the employer or the employer's agent of record shall also be considered good cause for purposes of this subparagraph.

              (iv)  The department shall compute a benefit ratio for each eligible employer, which shall be the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits charged to his or her experience-rating record during the period his or her experience-rating record has been chargeable, but not less than the twelve (12) consecutive calendar-month period nor more than the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date, by his or her total taxable payroll for the same period on which all unemployment insurance contributions due have been paid on or before the September 30 immediately following the computation date.  Such benefit ratio shall be computed to the tenth of a percent (.1%), rounding any remainder to the next higher tenth.

              (v)  1.  The unemployment insurance contribution rate for each eligible employer shall be the sum of two (2) rates:  his or her individual experience rate in the range from zero percent (0%) to five and four-tenths percent (5.4%), plus a general experience rate.  In no event shall the resulting unemployment insurance rate be in excess of five and four-tenths percent (5.4%), however, it is the intent of this section to provide the ability for employers to have a tax rate, the general experience rate plus the individual experience rate, of up to five and four-tenths percent (5.4%).

                   2.  The employer's individual experience rate shall be equal to his or her benefit ratio as computed under subsection (2)(b)(iv) above.

                   3.  The general experience rate shall be determined in the following manner:  The department shall determine annually, for the thirty-six (36) consecutive calendar-month period ending on the computation date, the amount of benefits which were not charged to the record of any employer and of benefits which were ineffectively charged to the employer's experience-rating record.  For the purposes of this item 3, the term "ineffectively charged benefits" shall include:

                        a.  The total of the amounts of benefits charged to the experience-rating records of all eligible employers which caused their benefit ratios to exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%);

                        b.  The total of the amounts of benefits charged to the experience-rating records of all ineligible employers which would cause their benefit ratios to exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%) if they were eligible employers; and

                        c.  The total of the amounts of benefits charged or chargeable to the experience-rating record of any employer who has discontinued his or her business or whose coverage has been terminated within such period; provided, that solely for the purposes of determining the amounts of ineffectively charged benefits as herein defined, a "benefit ratio" shall be computed for each ineligible employer, which shall be the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits charged to his or her experience-rating record throughout the period ending on the computation date, during which his or her experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits, by his or her total taxable payroll for the same period on which all unemployment insurance contributions due have been paid on or before the September 30 immediately following the computation date; and provided further, that such benefit ratio shall be computed to the tenth of one percent (.1%) and any remainder shall be rounded to the next higher tenth.

     The ratio of the sum of these amounts (subsection (2)(b)(v)3a, b and c) to the taxable wages paid during the same period divided by all eligible employers whose benefit ratio did not exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%), computed to the next higher tenth of one percent (.1%), shall be the general experience rate; however, the general experience rate for rate year 2014 shall be two tenths of one percent (.2%) and to that will be added the employer's individual experience rate for the total unemployment insurance rate.

                   4.  a.  Except as otherwise provided in this item 4, the general experience rate shall be adjusted by use of the size of fund index factor.  This factor may be positive or negative, and shall be determined as follows:  From the target SOFI, as defined in subsection (1)(k) of this section, subtract the simple average of the current and preceding years' exposure criterions divided by the cost rate criterion, as defined in subsection (1)(j) of this section.  The result is then multiplied by the product of the CRC, as defined in subsection (1)(j) of this section, and total wages for the twelve-month period ending June 30 divided by the taxable wages for the twelve-month period ending June 30.  This is the percentage positive or negative added to the general experience rate.  The sum of the general experience rate and the trust fund adjustment factor shall be multiplied by fifty percent (50%) and this product shall be computed to one (1) decimal place, and rounded to the next higher tenth.

                        b.  Notwithstanding the minimum rate provisions as set forth in subsection (1)(l) of this section, the general experience rate of all employers shall be reduced by seven one-hundredths of one percent (.07%) for calendar year 2013 only.

                   5.  The general experience rate shall be zero percent (0%) unless the general experience ratio for any tax year as computed and adjusted on the basis of the trust fund adjustment factor and reduced by fifty percent (50%) is an amount equal to or greater than two-tenths of one percent (.2%), then the general experience rate shall be the computed general experience ratio and adjusted on the basis of the trust fund adjustment factor and reduced by fifty percent (50%); however, in no case shall the sum of the general experience plus the individual experience unemployment insurance rate exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%).  For rate years subsequent to 2014, Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training contribution rate, and/or State Workforce Investment contribution rate, and/or Mississippi Works contribution rate, when in effect, shall be added to the unemployment contribution rate, regardless of whether the addition of this contribution rate causes the total contribution rate for the employer to exceed five and four-tenths percent (5.4%).

                   6.  The department shall include in its annual rate notice to employers a brief explanation of the elements of the general experience rate, and shall include in its regular publications an annual analysis of benefits not charged to the record of any employer, and of the benefit experience of employers by industry group whose benefit ratio exceeds four percent (4%), and of any other factors which may affect the size of the general experience rate.

                   7.  Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the general experience rate for calendar year 2021 shall be zero percent (0%).  Charges attributed to each employer's individual experience rate for the period March 8, 2020, through June 30, 2020, will not impact the employer's individual experience rate calculations for purposes of calculating the total unemployment insurance rate for 2021 and the two (2) subsequent tax rate years.  Moreover, charges attributed to each employer's individual experience rate for the period July 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020, will not impact the employer's individual experience rate calculations for purposes of calculating the total unemployment insurance rate for 2022 and the two (2) subsequent tax rate years.

              (vi)  When any employing unit in any manner succeeds to or acquires the organization, trade, business or substantially all the assets thereof of an employer, excepting any assets retained by such employer incident to the liquidation of his or her obligations, whether or not such acquiring employing unit was an employer within the meaning of Section 71-5-11, subsection H, prior to such acquisition, and continues such organization, trade or business, the experience-rating and payroll records of the predecessor employer shall be transferred as of the date of acquisition to the successor employer for the purpose of rate determination.

              (vii)  When any employing unit succeeds to or acquires a distinct and severable portion of an organization, trade or business, the experience-rating and payroll records of such portion, if separately identifiable, shall be transferred to the successor upon:

                   1.  The mutual consent of the predecessor and the successor;

                   2.  Approval of the department;

                   3.  Continued operation of the transferred portion by the successor after transfer; and

                   4.  The execution and the filing with the department by the predecessor employer of a waiver relinquishing all rights to have the experience-rating and payroll records of the transferred portion used for the purpose of determining modified rates of contribution for such predecessor.

              (viii)  If the successor was an employer subject to this chapter prior to the date of acquisition, it shall continue to pay unemployment insurance contributions at the rate applicable to it from the date the acquisition occurred until the end of the then current tax year.  If the successor was not an employer prior to the date of acquisition, it shall pay unemployment insurance contributions at the rate applicable to the predecessor or, if more than one (1) predecessor and the same rate is applicable to both, the rate applicable to the predecessor or predecessors, from the date the acquisition occurred until the end of the then current tax year.  If the successor was not an employer prior to the date the acquisition occurred and simultaneously acquires the businesses of two (2) or more employers to whom different rates of unemployment insurance contributions are applicable, it shall pay unemployment insurance contributions from the date of the acquisition until the end of the current tax year at a rate computed on the basis of the combined experience-rating and payroll records of the predecessors as of the computation date for such tax year.  In all cases the rate of unemployment insurance contributions applicable to such successor for each succeeding tax year shall be computed on the basis of the combined experience-rating and payroll records of the successor and the predecessor or predecessors.

              (ix)  The department shall notify each employer quarterly of the benefits paid and charged to his or her experience-rating record; and such notification, in the absence of an application for redetermination filed within thirty (30) days after the date of such notice, shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the employer for all purposes.  A redetermination, made after notice and opportunity for a fair hearing, by a hearing officer designated by the department who shall consider and decide these and related applications and protests; and the finding of fact in connection therewith may be introduced into any subsequent administrative or judicial proceedings involving the determination of the rate of unemployment insurance contributions of any employer for any tax year, and shall be entitled to the same finality as is provided in this subsection with respect to the findings of fact in proceedings to redetermine the contribution rate of an employer.

              (x)  The department shall notify each employer of his or her rate of contribution as determined for any tax year as soon as reasonably possible after September 1 of the preceding year.  Such determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon such employer unless, within thirty (30) days after the date of such notice to his or her last-known address, the employer files with the department an application for review and redetermination of his or her contribution rate, setting forth his or her reasons therefor.  If the department grants such review, the employer shall be promptly notified thereof and shall be afforded an opportunity for a fair hearing by a hearing officer designated by the department who shall consider and decide these and related applications and protests; but no employer shall be allowed, in any proceeding involving his or her rate of unemployment insurance contributions or contribution liability, to contest the chargeability to his or her account of any benefits paid in accordance with a determination, redetermination or decision pursuant to Sections 71-5-515 through 71-5-533 except upon the ground that the services on the basis of which such benefits were found to be chargeable did not constitute services performed in employment for him or her, and then only in the event that he or she was not a party to such determination, redetermination, decision or to any other proceedings provided in this chapter in which the character of such services was determined.  The employer shall be promptly notified of the denial of this application or of the redetermination, both of which shall become final unless, within ten (10) days after the date of notice thereof, there shall be an appeal to the department itself.  Any such appeal shall be on the record before said designated hearing officer, and the decision of said department shall become final unless, within thirty (30) days after the date of notice thereof to the employer's last-known address, there shall be an appeal to the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in accordance with the provisions of law with respect to review of civil causes by certiorari.

     (3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following shall apply regarding assignment of rates and transfers of experience:

          (a)  (i)  If an employer transfers its trade or business, or a portion thereof, to another employer and, at the time of the transfer, there is substantially common ownership, management or control of the two (2) employers, then the unemployment experience attributable to the transferred trade or business shall be transferred to the employer to whom such business is so transferred.  The rates of both employers shall be recalculated and made effective on January 1 of the year following the year the transfer occurred.

              (ii)  If, following a transfer of experience under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (a), the department determines that a substantial purpose of the transfer of trade or business was to obtain a reduced liability of unemployment insurance contributions, then the experience-rating accounts of the employers involved shall be combined into a single account and a single rate assigned to such account.

          (b)  Whenever a person who is not an employer or an employing unit under this chapter at the time it acquires the trade or business of an employer, the unemployment experience of the acquired business shall not be transferred to such person if the department finds that such person acquired the business solely or primarily for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of unemployment insurance contributions.  Instead, such person shall be assigned the new employer rate under Section 71-5-353, unless assignment of the new employer rate results in an increase of less than two percent (2%), in which case such person would be assigned the new employer rate plus an additional two percent (2%) penalty for the rate year.  In determining whether the business was acquired solely or primarily for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of unemployment insurance contributions, the department shall use objective factors which may include the cost of acquiring the business, whether the person continued the business enterprise of the acquired business, how long such business enterprise was continued, or whether a substantial number of new employees were hired for performance of duties unrelated to the business activity conducted prior to acquisition.

          (c)  (i)  If a person knowingly violates or attempts to violate paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection or any other provision of this chapter related to determining the assignment of a contribution rate, or if a person knowingly advises another person in a way that results in a violation of such provision, the person shall be subject to the following penalties:

                   1.  If the person is an employer, then such employer shall be assigned the highest rate assignable under this chapter for the rate year during which such violation or attempted violation occurred and the three (3) rate years immediately following this rate year.  However, if the person's business is already at such highest rate for any year, or if the amount of increase in the person's rate would be less than two percent (2%) for such year, then * * * a penalty rate of unemployment insurance contributions of two percent (2%) of taxable wages shall be imposed for such year the person's tax rate shall be increased by two percent (2%) for such year.  The penalty rate will apply to the successor business as well as the related entity from which the employees were transferred in an effort to obtain a lower rate of unemployment insurance contributions.

                   2.  If the person is not an employer, such person shall be subject to a civil money penalty of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).  Each such transaction for which advice was given and each occurrence or reoccurrence after notification being given by the department shall be a separate offense and punishable by a separate penalty.  Any such fine shall be deposited in the penalty and interest account established under Section 71-5-114.

              (ii)  For purposes of this paragraph (c), the term "knowingly" means having actual knowledge of or acting with deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard for the prohibition involved.

              (iii)  For purposes of this paragraph (c), the term "violates or attempts to violate" includes, but is not limited to, intent to evade, misrepresentation or willful nondisclosure.

              (iv)  In addition to the penalty imposed by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (c), any violation of this subsection may be punishable by a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.  This subsection shall prohibit prosecution under any other criminal statute of this state.

          (d)  The department shall establish procedures to identify the transfer or acquisition of a business for purposes of this subsection.

          (e)  For purposes of this subsection:

              (i)  "Person" has the meaning given such term by Section 7701(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and

              (ii)  "Employing unit" has the meaning as set forth in Section 71-5-11.

          (f)  This subsection shall be interpreted and applied in such a manner as to meet the minimum requirements contained in any guidance or regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor.

     SECTION 6.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.


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