2016 -- H 7693

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LC004864

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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: Representatives Chippendale, Nardolillo, Canario, Blazejewski, and

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2016

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 28-44-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-44 entitled

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

     28-44-17.1. Voluntary leaving as protection from domestic abuse. -- (a) An individual

shall be eligible for waiting period credit or benefits if that individual voluntarily leaves work due

to circumstances directly resulting from domestic abuse, as defined in chapter 8.1 of title 8, and

the individual:

      (1) Reasonably fears future domestic abuse at or on route to or from the individual's

place of employment;

      (2) Wishes to relocate to another geographic area in order to avoid future domestic abuse

against the individual or the individual's family; or

      (3) Reasonably believes that leaving work is necessary for the future safety of the

individual or the individual's family.

      (b) When determining whether an individual has experienced domestic abuse for the

purpose of employment benefits, the department of labor and training shall require that the

individual provide documentation of domestic abuse, including, but not limited to, police or court

records, or other documentation of domestic abuse from a shelter worker, attorney, member of the

clergy, or medical or other professional from whom the individual has sought assistance, but such

documentation need not be provided prior to four (4) weeks after the date of filing the claim.

     (c) The department of labor and training, upon receipt of a claim for unemployment

compensation based upon §28-44-17.1 shall give such claim priority, process the claim and pay

the benefits to the individual within three (3) business days.

     (d) The individual claiming benefits pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the

seven (7) day waiting period as required by §28-44-14 and shall immediately be eligible for

benefits from the date of separation from employment.

     (e) The individual claiming benefits pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the

provisions of §28-44-12 for a period of four (4) weeks subsequent to the filing of the claim.

     (f) All documentation of evidence shall be kept confidential unless consent for disclosure

is given by the individual.

     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 an accelerated process for collecting unemployment benefits for

persons claiming benefits after voluntarily leaving work for circumstances resulting from

domestic abuse.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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