Bill Text: NH HB1499 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount of unemployment benefits; amending the definitions of full-time and part-time work; and establishing a commission study the effect on the unemployment compensation trust fund of the contribution rate reduction trigger levels in RSA 282-A:82 and RSA 282-A:82-a and the elimination of some or all of the waiting periods required to be served pursuant to RSA 282-A:31, I(h).
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-05-30 - Conference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; Senate Journal 15 [HB1499 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2014-HB1499-Amended.html
HB 1499-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
25Mar2014… 0607h
2014 SESSION
08/03
HOUSE BILL 1499-FN
AN ACT increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount of unemployment benefits; amending the definitions of “full-time” and “part-time” work; and establishing a commission study the effect on the unemployment compensation trust fund of the contribution rate reduction trigger levels in RSA 282-A:82 and RSA 282-A:82-a and the elimination of some or all of the waiting periods required to be served pursuant to RSA 282-A:31, I(h).
SPONSORS: Rep. Goley, Hills 8; Rep. Infantine, Hills 13; Rep. G. Richardson, Merr 10; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Pierce, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
This bill:
I. Increases the maximum weekly benefit amount of unemployment benefits.
II. Amends the definitions of “full-time” and “part-time” work.
III. Establishes a commission study the effect on the unemployment compensation trust fund of the contribution rate reduction trigger levels in RSA 282-A:82 and RSA 282-A:82-a. The commission shall also study the elimination of some or all of the waiting periods required to be served pursuant to RSA 282-A:31, I(h).
This bill is a request of the department of employment security.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25Mar2014… 0607h
14-2447
08/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
AN ACT increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount of unemployment benefits; amending the definitions of “full-time” and “part-time” work; and establishing a commission study the effect on the unemployment compensation trust fund of the contribution rate reduction trigger levels in RSA 282-A:82 and RSA 282-A:82-a and the elimination of some or all of the waiting periods required to be served pursuant to RSA 282-A:31, I(h).
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Maximum Weekly Benefit Amounts. Amend RSA 282-A:25, I to read as follows:
I. The maximum weekly benefit amount and maximum benefits payable to an eligible individual, the first day of whose individual benefit year is on or after the effective date of this paragraph, shall be determined by the individual’s annual earnings, of which in each of 2 calendar quarters the individual must have earned not less than $1,400, as follows:
Annual Earnings of Maximum Weekly Maximum
Not Less Than Benefit Amount Benefits
$ 2,800 $[32] 35 $[832] 910
3,100 [35] 39 [910] 1,014
3,400 [39] 43 [1,014] 1,118
3,900 [45] 49 [1,170] 1,274
4,200 [48] 53 [1,248] 1,378
4,500 [52] 56 [1,352] 1,456
4,800 [55] 60 [1,430] 1,570
5,100 [59] 64 [1,534] 1,664
5,600 [64] 70 [1,664] 1,820
6,100 [69] 76 [1,794] 1,976
6,600 [75] 82 [1,950] 2,132
7,000 [80] 86 [2,080] 2,236
7,400 [83] 91 [2,158] 2,366
7,800 [88] 96 [2,288] 2,496
8,200 [92] 101 [2,392] 2,626
8,600 [96] 105 [2,496] 2,730
9,000 [101] 110 [2,626] 2,860
9,500 [105] 116 [2,730] 3,016
10,000 [110] 122 [2,860] 3,172
10,500 [115] 127 [2,990] 3,302
11,000 [120] 133 [3,120] 3,458
11,500 [126] 139 [3,276] 3,614
12,500 [137] 150 [3,562] 3,900
13,500 [148] 161 [3,848] 4,186
14,500 [159] 173 [4,134] 4,498
15,500 [167] 184 [4,342] 4,784
16,500 [178] 194 [4,628] 5,044
17,500 [188] 205 [4,888] 5,330
18,500 [199] 216 [5,174] 5,616
19,500 [206] 226 [5,356] 5,876
20,500 [217] 237 [5,642] 6,162
21,500 [227] 247 [5,902] 6,422
22,500 [238] 257 [6,188] 6,682
23,500 [249] 267 [6,474] 6,942
24,500 [254] 277 [6,604] 7,202
25,500 [265] 287 [6,890] 7,462
26,500 [275] 296 [7,150] 7,696
27,500 [286] 306 [7,436] 7,956
28,500 [290] 315 [7,540] 8,190
29,500 [301] 325 [7,826] 8,450
30,500 [311] 334 [8,086] 8,684
31,500 [321] 343 [8,346] 8,918
32,500 [331] 352 [8,606] 9,152
33,500 [342] 361 [8,892] 9,386
34,500 [352] 369 [9,152] 9,594
35,500 [362] 378 [9,412] 9,828
36,500 [372] 386 [9,672] 10,036
37,500 [383] 395 [9,958] 10,270
38,500 [394] 403 [10,244] 10,478
39,500 [405] 411 [10,530] 10,686
40,500 [416] 419 [10,816] 10,894
41,500 427 11,102
2 Definitions; Employment. Amend RSA 282-A:9, VIII-IX to read as follows:
VIII. “Full-time work” is [work in employment of at least 37.5 hours a week] services for the number of hours that is considered full-time by the industry in which the individual is seeking work, or by the person or entity for which services are or will be performed, but not less than 35 hours per week.
IX. “Part-time work” is [work in employment of at least 20 hours a week but less than 37.5 hours a week] services of at least 20 hours per week but for fewer hours in a week than full-time work as defined by paragraph VIII. Such services shall include self-employment.
3 New Section; Contribution Rate Study Commission. Amend RSA 282-A by inserting after section 82-a the following new section:
282-A:82-b Contribution Rate Study Commission.
I. There is established a commission to study the effect on the unemployment compensation trust fund of the contribution rate reduction trigger levels in RSA 282-A:82 and RSA 282-A:82-a and the elimination of some or all of the waiting periods required to be served pursuant to RSA 282-A:31, I(h).
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of employment security, or designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
(d) The chairman of the advisory council on unemployment compensation created pursuant to RSA 282-A:128, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
(e) Three public members appointed by the governor with the consent and advice of the executive council one of whom shall be an individual who, because of vocation, employment, or affiliation, shall be classed as representing the point of view of labor; one of whom shall be an individual who, because of vocation, employment, or affiliation, shall be classed as representing the point of view of employers; and one of whom, who shall be designated as chairperson, shall be an individual whose training and experience qualify the individual to deal with unemployment compensation.
III. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
IV. The commission shall study the effect on the unemployment compensation trust fund of the contribution rate reduction trigger levels in RSA 282-A:82 and RSA 282-A:82-a. The commission shall also study the elimination of some or all of the waiting periods required to be served pursuant to RSA 282-A:31, I(h).
V. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the chairperson. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2014.
4 Repeal RSA 282-A:82-b, relative to the contribution rate study commission is repealed.
5 Effective Date.
I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2014.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
14-2447
Amended 04/03/14
HB 1499-FN FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount of unemployment benefits; amending the definitions of “full-time” and “part-time” work; and establishing a commission study the effect on the unemployment compensation trust fund of the contribution rate reduction trigger levels in RSA 282-A:82 and RSA 282-A:82-a and the elimination of some or all of the waiting periods required to be served pursuant to RSA 282-A:31, I(h).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Employment Security states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2014-0607h), may increase state, county and local expenditures, and state restricted revenue by an indeterminable amount in FY 2014 and each year thereafter. There is no fiscal impact on county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Employment Security states this bill increases the maximum weekly benefit amount of unemployment benefits, amends the definition of full-time and part-time work, and establishes a contribution rate study commission. The Department used a sample of 1,090 benefit payment transactions made during the period of June 2012 through May 2013 to calculate the gross amount paid under the existing schedule for maximum weekly benefit amounts and then substituted the schedule proposed in the amendment to determine the disbursements from the Unemployment Trust Fund would increase by approximately 5.34% or $4.81 million annually (total annual disbursement of $90 million * 5.34%). To the extent a claimant was an employee of the state, county or municipality, there may be increased costs as the state and its political subdivisions are billed for the payments made to a claimant from the fund. The Department estimates state expenditures may increase by $58,656, county expenditures may increase by $11,406, and local expenditures may increase by $140,679. The Department states the proposed changes to the employment definition could affect an individual’s unemployment benefits. However, the Department indicated there is no way of estimating with any degree of certainty the fiscal impact associated with the definition changes.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states it does not anticipate the proposed amendment will have a fiscal impact on municipalities as it does not change the amount of the employer contribution for unemployment compensation.
