SB 745 - Bernskoetter, Mike
Modifies the duration of unemployment benefits based on the unemployment rate
Bill Details
Sponsor
LR Number
4311S.01I
Title
SB 745
House Handler
N/A
Journal Page
N/A
Effective Date
August 28, 2024
Committee
Current Status
Informal Calendar S Bills for Perfection
Quick Links
CURRENT BILL SUMMARY
SS/SB 745 - This act modifies provisions relating to unemployment benefits.
The act modifies the definition of wages for purposes of employment security law to include termination pay and severance pay. The total amount of wages derived from severance pay, if paid to an insured in a lump sum, shall be pro-rated on a weekly basis at the rate of pay received by the insured at the time of termination for the purposes of determining unemployment eligibility.
This provision is identical to SB 845 (2024), HB 2098 (2024), a provision in SCS/SB 21 (2023), HB 726 (2023), HB 1115 (2023), and SB 1114 (2022) and substantially similar to SB 183 (2021), HB 756 (2021), HB 215 (2021), SCS/HCS/HB 649 (2021), SB 680 (2020), provisions in SCS/HB 1559 (2020), HB 1921 (2020), SCS/HB 332 (2019), HB 217 (2019), SB 869 (2018), HB 1409 (2018), SCS/SB 189 (2017), HB 288 (2017), HB 150 (2015), which was vetoed by the Governor, and SB 220 (2015).
Under current law, the maximum duration for an individual to receive unemployment benefits is 20 weeks. This act modifies the duration an individual can receive such benefits by basing it on the Missouri average unemployment rate, as follows:
· 20 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than nine percent;
· 19 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 8.5% but no higher than 9%;
· 18 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 8% but no higher than 8.5%;
· 17 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 7.5% but no higher than 8%;
· 16 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 7% but no higher than 7.5%;
· 15 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 6.5% but no higher than 7%;
· 14 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 6% but no higher than 6.5%;
· 13 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 5.5% but no higher than 6%;
· 12 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 5% but no higher than 5.5%;
· 11 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 4.5% but no higher than 5%;
· 10 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 4% but no higher than 4.5%;
· 9 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 3.5% but no higher than 4%; and
· 8 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is at or below 3.5%.
These provisions take effect beginning January 1, 2025.
This act is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 21 (2023), HB 765 (2023), SS/SB 665 (2022), SCS/HB 1860 (2022), HB 1909 (2022), and SCS/HCS/HB 649 (2021) and substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 539 (2021), SCS/SB 622 (2021), a provision in HB 215 (2021), SB 690 (2020), HB 1921 (2020), HB 2039 (2020), HB 217 (2019), provisions in SB 869 (2018), SCS/SB 189 (2017), HB 288 (2017), HB 150 (2015), which was vetoed by the Governor, and SB 220 (2015).
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