Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a $1,500 bonus for unemployed individuals that accept reemployment within 30 days.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the mission of the Division of Employment Security in the Department of Commerce is to seek approval and enter an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to use federal funds allocated to North Carolina to provide a back-to-work bonus in which the amount would vary and be payable as follows (Sec. 1a):

• A $1,500 bonus for accepting reemployment within 30 days of this section becoming law;

• An $800 bonus for accepting reemployment within the period starting 30 to 60 days after this section becomes law; and

• No bonus will be paid for accepting reemployment after September 6, 2021.

• Requires an individual to meet all of the following requirements for each weekly benefit period (Sec. 2a):

• File a claim for benefits;

• Report as requested by the Division and present a valid photo identification meeting; and 

• Meet the following work search requirements.

• Requires an individual to meet all of the following work search requirements to attain the back-to-work bonus (Sec. 2a):

• The individual is able to work;

• The individual is available to work;

• The individual is actively seeking work; and

• The individual accepts suitable work when offered.

• Specifies that an individual is not able to work during any week that the individual is receiving or is applying for benefits under any other state or federal law based on the individual's temporary total or permanent total disability (Sec. 2a).

• Specifies that an individual is not available to work during any week that the following applies (Sec. 2a):

• The individual tests positive for a controlled substance;

• The individual is incarcerated or has received notice to report to or is otherwise detained in a state or federal jail or penal institution; 

• The individual is an alien and is not in satisfactory immigration status under the laws administered by the United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service; or

• The individual is on disciplinary suspension for 30 or fewer days based on acts or omissions that constitute fault on the part of the employee and are connected with the work.

• Specifies that an individual is actively seeking work based upon the following (Sec. 2a):

• The individual is registered for employment services;

• The individual has engaged in an active search for employment that is appropriate in light of the employment available in the labor market and the individual's skills and capabilities;

• The individual has made at least three job contacts with potential employers during the week; and

• The individual has maintained a record of the individual's work search efforts. The record must include the potential employers contacted, the method of contact, the date contacted, as well as whether any of the potential employers have made an interview request and, if so, the responses made.

• Specifies that an employment offer is suitable based upon the individual's length of unemployment as follows (Sec. 2a):

• During the first 10 weeks of a benefit period, the Division may consider the degree of risk involved to the individual's health, safety, and morals, the individual's physical fitness and prior training and experience, the individual's prospects for securing local work in the individual's customary occupation, the distance of the available work from the individual's residence, and the individual's prior earnings; and

• During the remaining weeks of a benefit period, the Division must consider any employment offer paying 120 percent of the individual's weekly benefit amount to be suitable work.

• Specifies that an individual who has received an interview request by an employer offering suitable work must respond to the employer in the following manner (Sec. 2a):

• Respond to the interview request within 48 hours; 

• Schedule an interview following an interview request within 7 days if the employer has made available an opportunity to interview during that same period, or a period outside of 7 days if mutually agreed upon by both parties; and

• Attend any reemployment activity associated with the interview request if required by an employer in their normal course of recruitment.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a $1,500 bonus for unemployed individuals that accept reemployment within 30 days.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the mission of the Division of Employment Security in the Department of Commerce is to seek approval and enter an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to use federal funds allocated to North Carolina to provide a back-to-work bonus in which the amount would vary and be payable as follows (Sec. 1a):

• A $1,500 bonus for accepting reemployment within 30 days of this section becoming law;

• An $800 bonus for accepting reemployment within the period starting 30 to 60 days after this section becomes law; and

• No bonus will be paid for accepting reemployment after September 6, 2021.

• Requires an individual to meet all of the following requirements for each weekly benefit period (Sec. 2a):

• File a claim for benefits;

• Report as requested by the Division and present a valid photo identification meeting; and 

• Meet the following work search requirements.

• Requires an individual to meet all of the following work search requirements to attain the back-to-work bonus (Sec. 2a):

• The individual is able to work;

• The individual is available to work;

• The individual is actively seeking work; and

• The individual accepts suitable work when offered.

• Specifies that an individual is not able to work during any week that the individual is receiving or is applying for benefits under any other state or federal law based on the individual's temporary total or permanent total disability (Sec. 2a).

• Specifies that an individual is not available to work during any week that the following applies (Sec. 2a):

• The individual tests positive for a controlled substance;

• The individual is incarcerated or has received notice to report to or is otherwise detained in a state or federal jail or penal institution; 

• The individual is an alien and is not in satisfactory immigration status under the laws administered by the United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service; or

• The individual is on disciplinary suspension for 30 or fewer days based on acts or omissions that constitute fault on the part of the employee and are connected with the work.

• Specifies that an individual is actively seeking work based upon the following (Sec. 2a):

• The individual is registered for employment services;

• The individual has engaged in an active search for employment that is appropriate in light of the employment available in the labor market and the individual's skills and capabilities;

• The individual has made at least three job contacts with potential employers during the week; and

• The individual has maintained a record of the individual's work search efforts. The record must include the potential employers contacted, the method of contact, the date contacted, as well as whether any of the potential employers have made an interview request and, if so, the responses made.

• Specifies that an employment offer is suitable based upon the individual's length of unemployment as follows (Sec. 2a):

• During the first 10 weeks of a benefit period, the Division may consider the degree of risk involved to the individual's health, safety, and morals, the individual's physical fitness and prior training and experience, the individual's prospects for securing local work in the individual's customary occupation, the distance of the available work from the individual's residence, and the individual's prior earnings; and

• During the remaining weeks of a benefit period, the Division must consider any employment offer paying 120 percent of the individual's weekly benefit amount to be suitable work.

• Specifies that an individual who has received an interview request by an employer offering suitable work must respond to the employer in the following manner (Sec. 2a):

• Respond to the interview request within 48 hours; 

• Schedule an interview following an interview request within 7 days if the employer has made available an opportunity to interview during that same period, or a period outside of 7 days if mutually agreed upon by both parties; and

• Attend any reemployment activity associated with the interview request if required by an employer in their normal course of recruitment.

Full Bill Text