2016 -- S 2850

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LC005427

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - EMPLOYMENT SECURITY -

BENEFITS

     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 28-44-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-44 entitled

"Employment Security - Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     28-44-12. Availability and registration for work. -- (a) An individual shall not be

eligible for benefits for any week of his or her partial or total unemployment unless during that

week he or she is physically able to work full-time and be available for full-time work. To prove

availability for work, every individual partially or totally unemployed shall register for work and

shall:

      (1) File a claim for benefits within any time limits, with any frequency, and in any

manner, in person or in writing, as the director may prescribe;

      (2) Respond whenever duly called for work through the employment office; and

      (3) Make an active, independent search for suitable full-time work.

      (b) If an unemployed individual has been determined to be likely to exhaust regular

benefits and to need reemployment services pursuant to a profiling system established by the

director, the individual shall be eligible to receive benefits with respect to any week only if the

individual participates in reemployment services, such as job search assistance services, unless

the director determines that:

      (1) The individual has completed those services; or

      (2) There is justifiable cause for the individual's failure to participate in those services.

     (c) An individual employed by a private contractor to an educational institution,

including, but not limited to, bus drivers, aides or monitors, cafeteria workers, or other

individuals subject to an agreement which provides "reasonable assurance" of a return to work

within twelve (12) weeks, shall not be subject to disqualification or reduction of benefits pursuant

to this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - EMPLOYMENT SECURITY -

BENEFITS

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     This act would provide that those individuals, who are subject to an agreement for

"reasonable assurance" to return to work within twelve (12) weeks and are employed by a private

contractor to an educational institution, will not be subject to disqualification or reduction of

unemployment benefits.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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