2019 -- S 0175

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LC000879

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR - UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS DURING FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

     

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Ruggerio, Euer, Goodwin, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 28-44 of the General Laws entitled "Employment Security -

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Benefits" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     28-44-17.2. Unemployment benefits for federal employees during government

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shutdown.

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     Notwithstanding any general laws to the contrary, federal government employees, who

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are covered by Rhode Island's employment security laws, shall be immediately eligible for

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weekly unemployment benefits, while the federal government has been shutdown even if they are

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actually working but not currently receiving wages. When they eventually receive their federal

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back pay, they shall immediately repay any unemployment benefits they had received as a result

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of the federal government shutdown.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000879

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR - UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS DURING FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

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     This act would enable federal employees, who are working during a government

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shutdown but not receiving wages, to receive unemployment benefits while they are working but

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not getting paid. When they receive their federal back pay they are required to repay the state for

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any unemployment benefits they receive.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000879

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