Bill Text: GA HB500 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

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

Download: Georgia-2011-HB500-Comm_Sub.html

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11 LC 36 1948ERS

COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE SUBSTITUTE TO HB 500

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to change certain provisions relating to unemployment; to change provisions relating to eligibility requirements for extended benefits so as to provide a state "on" indicator for triggering an extended benefit period under certain circumstances during a certain period of time; to change certain definitions; to provide for the administration of the Georgia Work Ready program by the Governor's Office of Workforce Development; to provide for support of the Georgia Work Ready program by the Department of Labor and the Department of Economic Development; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations, is amended by revising paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 34-8-197, relating to eligibility requirements for extended benefits, as follows:

"(1) 'Eligibility period' of an individual means the period consisting of the weeks in his or her benefit year which begin in an extended benefit period and, if his or her benefit year ends within such extended benefit period, any weeks thereafter which begin in such period; provided, however, that with respect to extended benefit periods established under division (a)(3)(B)(i) of this Code section pertaining to Section 2005 of Public Law 111-5 and any extension thereof that does not impose any new condition upon receipt of such 100 percent federal funding, or division (a)(3)(B)(ii) of this Code section pertaining to Section 502 of Public Law 111-312, 'eligibility period' of an individual also means the period consisting of the weeks during which such individual is eligible for Emergency Unemployment Compensation provided for by the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, Title IV Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Public Law 110-252, and the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008, Public Law 110-449, and any extension or expansion thereof, when such weeks begin in that extended benefit period and, if his or her eligibility for such emergency unemployment compensation ends within such extended benefit period, any weeks thereafter which begin in such period, except as otherwise limited by the provisions in division (a)(3)(B)(ii)(a)(3)(B)(iii) of this Code section."

"(3)(A) 'Extended benefit period' means a period which:

(i) Begins with the third week after a week for which there is a state 'on' indicator; and

(ii) Ends with either of the following weeks, whichever occurs later:

(I) The third week after the first week for which there is a state 'off' indicator; or

(II) The thirteenth consecutive week of such period.

However, no extended benefit period may begin by reason of a state 'on' indicator before the fourteenth week following the end of a prior extended benefit period which was in effect with respect to this state. There is a state 'on' indicator for a week if, for the period consisting of such week and the immediately preceding 12 weeks, the rate of insured unemployment under the state law for the period equaled or exceeded 120 percent of the average of such rates for the corresponding 13 week period ending in each of the preceding two calendar years and equaled or exceeded 5 percent.

(B)(i) With respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after February 1, 2009, there is a state 'on' indicator for a week if:

(I) The average rate of total unemployment, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the period consisting of the most recent three months for which data for all states are published before the close of such week equals or exceeds 6 1/2 percent; and

(II) The average rate of total unemployment in this state, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the three-month period referred to in subdivision (I) of this subparagraph, equals or exceeds 110 percent of such average for either or both of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the two preceding calendar years.

(ii) In accordance with the provisions of Section 502(a) of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, P.L. 111-312, with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after February 27, 2011, and ending on December 31, 2011, there is a state 'on' indicator for a week if:

(I) The average rate of total unemployment, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the period consisting of the most recent three months for which data for all states are published before the close of such week equals or exceeds 6 1/2 percent; and

(II) The average rate of total unemployment in this state, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the three-month period referred to in subdivision (I) of this subparagraph, equals or exceeds 110 percent of such average for any or all of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the three preceding calendar years.

(ii)(iii) This subparagraph shall apply only through the week ending three four weeks prior to the last week for which 100 percent federal funding is authorized and provided pursuant to either Section 2005(a) of Public Law 111-5 or any extension thereof that does not impose any new condition upon receipt of such federal funding, without regard to the extension of federal sharing for certain claims as provided under Section 2005(c) of such law.

(C) There is a state 'off' indicator for a week if, for the period consisting of such week and the immediately preceding 12 weeks, none of the options specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph result in an 'on' indicator."

SECTION 2.

Said title is further amended by revising subsections (m) and (n) of Code Section 34-8-197, relating to eligibility requirements for extended benefits, as follows:

"(m) For purposes of subsection (l) of this Code section, 'high-unemployment period' means a period during which an extended benefit period would be in effect if subdivision (a)(3)(B)(i)(I) or, if applicable, subdivision (a)(3)(B)(ii)(I) of this Code section were applied by substituting '8 percent' for '6 1/2 percent.'

(n) Subsections (l) and (m) of this Code section shall apply through the week ending three four weeks prior to the last week for which 100 percent federal funding is authorized and provided pursuant to either Section 2005(a) of Public Law 111-5 or any extension thereof that does not impose any new condition upon receipt of such federal funding, without regard to the extension of federal sharing for certain claims as provided under Section 2005(c) of such law."

SECTION 3.

Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 34-14-1, relating to definitions, as follows:

"34-14-1.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) 'Board' means the Georgia Workforce Investment Board.

(2) 'Director' means the executive director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development.

(3) 'Federal law' means the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220.

(4) 'Georgia Work Ready' or 'program' means the state's branded workforce development enterprise administered and implemented by the Governor's Office of Workforce Development that:

(A) Links links education and workforce development together and aligns to the economic development needs at the local, regional, and state levels; and

(B) Provides a system of educational and workforce development tools, skills gap training, job profiling, and skills assessments based on nationally recognized career and workforce readiness evaluations and standards.

(5) 'Office' means the Governor's Office of Workforce Development."

SECTION 4.

Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"34-14-5.

(a) The Governor's Office of Workforce Development shall, with the approval of the board, institute the Georgia Work Ready program. The implementation and operation of the program shall be subject to available federal funding as provided for in Code Section 34-14-4. The program shall be made available to job seekers free of charge. As a part of the program, the office shall implement and administer a work readiness computer training course that will include an educational component for job seekers on accessing the program, skills gap training, and how to complete an on-line job application. The Technical College System of Georgia shall provide to the office such services and locations needed by the office for delivery of the program to the public.

(b) Under the Georgia Work Ready program the office shall:

(1) Develop and make available information regarding the program's workforce development tools and educational materials available to job seekers in Georgia. The office shall also develop and make available information regarding the Georgia Work Ready program related to educating potential employers about the benefits of hiring individuals who have participated in the program or become work ready certified. The information described in this paragraph shall be distributed to both the Department of Labor and the Department of Economic Development; and

(2) Collect and disseminate data for purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Beginning July 1, 2012, and annually thereafter, the Department of Labor shall collect and provide to the office data regarding the employment status of persons who have participated in the program. The Department of Labor shall provide such other information that may be reasonably obtained that is determined by the office to be necessary for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program. The office shall disseminate its evaluation of the program to the Department of Labor and the Department of Economic Development annually beginning January 1, 2013. The office, departments, and Technical College System of Georgia shall work cooperatively to provide support for the office's annual report.

(c) Provided that the program is operational, the Department of Labor shall make the information provided by the office pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section available to persons receiving unemployment benefits. The information shall be made available electronically and through the department's career centers or at such other locations reasonably likely to make such information available to the greatest number of unemployed persons seeking jobs.

(d) Provided that the Georgia Work Ready program is operational, the Department of Economic Development shall make the information provided by the office pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section available to businesses and industry. Such information shall be made available electronically and by such other means as the department shall determine reasonably likely to educate employers regarding the benefits of hiring persons who have participated in or become certified under the program.

(f) The board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for purposes of implementing the requirements of this Code section."

SECTION 5.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2011.

SECTION 6.

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