SCS/SB 21 - This act makes modifications to employment security law. SEVERANCE PAY (Sections 288.036 and 288.060) 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 a provision in 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). DURATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS (Section 288.060) 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, 2024. This provision is identical to a provision in 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). SCOTT SVAGERA