SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 751
90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CLAY.
Pre-filed December 29, 1999, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
3038S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 288, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the establishment of the birth and adoption unemployment compensation program, with an effective date.
Section A. Chapter 288, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 288.053, to read as follows:
Section 288.053. 1. There is hereby established a pilot project to provide unemployment compensation benefits to parents of newly born or adopted children, which shall be known as "The Birth and Adoption Unemployment Compensation Program".
2. An individual who is on leave of absence from his or her employer or who left employment to be with the individual's child during the first year of life, or during the first year following placement with the individual for adoption, shall not be denied compensation pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 288.050 for voluntarily leaving employment, subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of section 288.040 relating to availability for work, inability to work or for failure to actively seek work.
3. Subsection 4 of section 288.040, concerning the reduction of the amount of compensation due to receipt of disqualifying income, shall apply to payments under this section. In addition, the following payments shall cause a reduction in the compensation amount:
(1) Any payment from the employer resulting from a birth or adoption described in subsection 2 of this section; and
(2) Any payment resulting from a birth or adoption described in subsection 2 of this section from a disability insurance plan contributed to by an employer, in proportion to the employer's contribution to the plan.
4. Compensation is payable to an individual pursuant to this section for a maximum of twelve weeks with respect to any birth or placement for adoption.
5. Each employer shall post at each site operated by the employer, in a conspicuous place, accessible to all employees, information relating to the availability of birth and adoption unemployment compensation.
6. Any compensation paid pursuant to this section shall not be charged to the account of the individual employer.
7. Two years following the effective date of this section, the commissioner shall issue a report to the governor and the legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the birth and adoption unemployment compensation program.
8. This section shall be applied consistent with regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor.
Section B. This act shall become effective on August 28, 2000, or upon adoption of 20 CFR Part 604, or similar federal regulations authorizing state authority to utilize the unemployment compensation program for paid parental leave, whichever later occurs.