15 USC 9023 - Emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits

Collapse to view only § 9023. Emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits

§ 9021. Pandemic unemployment assistance
§ 9022. Flexibility in paying reimbursement
§ 9023. Emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits
§ 9024. Temporary full Federal funding of the first week of compensable regular unemployment for States with no waiting week
§ 9025. Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation
§ 9026. Temporary financing of short-time compensation payments in States with programs in law
§ 9027. Temporary financing of short-time compensation agreements
§ 9028. Grants for short-time compensation programs
§ 9029. Assistance and guidance in implementing programs
§ 9030. Waiver of the 7-day waiting period for benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act
§ 9031. Funding for the DOL Office of Inspector General for oversight of unemployment provisions
§ 9032. Implementation
§ 9033. Return to work reporting
§ 9034. Funding for fraud prevention, equitable access, and timely payment to eligible workers

§ 9021. Pandemic unemployment assistance

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) COVID–19

(2) COVID–19 public health emergency

(3) Covered individualThe term “covered individual”—

(A) means an individual who—

(i) is not eligible for regular compensation or extended benefits under State or Federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under section 9025 of this title, including an individual who has exhausted all rights to regular unemployment or extended benefits under State or Federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under section 9025 of this title;

(ii) provides self-certification that the individual—(I) is otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable State law, except the individual is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because—(aa) the individual has been diagnosed with COVID–19 or is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;(bb) a member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed with COVID–19;(cc) the individual is providing care for a family member or a member of the individual’s household who has been diagnosed with COVID–19;(dd) a child or other person in the household for which the individual has primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency and such school or facility care is required for the individual to work;(ee) the individual is unable to reach the place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency;(ff) the individual is unable to reach the place of employment because the individual has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19;(gg) the individual was scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency;(hh) the individual has become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID–19;(ii) the individual has to quit his or her job as a direct result of COVID–19;(jj) the individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency; or(kk) the individual meets any additional criteria established by the Secretary for unemployment assistance under this section; or(II) is self-employed, is seeking part-time employment, does not have sufficient work history, or otherwise would not qualify for regular unemployment or extended benefits under State or Federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under section 9025 of this title, and meets the requirements of subclause (I); and

(iii) provides documentation to substantiate employment or self-employment or the planned commencement of employment or self-employment not later than 21 days after the later of the date on which the individual submits an application for pandemic unemployment assistance under this section or the date on which an individual is directed by the State Agency to submit such documentation in accordance with section 625.6(e) of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto, except that such deadline may be extended if the individual has shown good cause under applicable State law for failing to submit such documentation; and

(B) does not include—

(i) an individual who has the ability to telework with pay; or

(ii) an individual who is receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits, regardless of whether the individual meets a qualification described in items (aa) through (kk) of subparagraph (A)(i)(I).

(4) Secretary

(5) State

(b) Assistance for unemployment as a result of COVID–19

(1) In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), the assistance authorized under subsection (b) shall be available to a covered individual—

(A) for weeks of unemployment, partial unemployment, or inability to work caused by COVID–19—

(i) beginning on or after January 27, 2020; and

(ii) ending on or before September 6, 2021; and

(B) subject to subparagraph (A)(ii), as long as the covered individual’s unemployment, partial unemployment, or inability to work caused by COVID–19 continues.

(2) Limitation on duration of assistance

(3) Assistance for unemployment before March 27, 2020

(4) Redesignated (3)

(5) Appeals by an individual

(A) In general

(B) ProcedureAll levels of appeal filed under this paragraph in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands—

(i) shall be carried out by the applicable State that made the determination or redetermination; and

(ii) shall be conducted in the same manner and to the same extent as the applicable State would conduct appeals of determinations or redeterminations regarding rights to regular compensation under State law.

(C) Procedure for certain territoriesWith respect to any appeal filed in Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau—

(i) lower level appeals shall be carried out by the applicable entity within the State;

(ii) if a higher level appeal is allowed by the State, the higher level appeal shall be carried out by the applicability entity within the State; and

(iii) appeals described in clauses (i) and (ii) shall be conducted in the same manner and to the same extent as appeals of regular unemployment compensation are conducted under the unemployment compensation law of Hawaii.

(6) Continued eligibility for assistance

(d) Amount of assistance

(1) In generalThe assistance authorized under subsection (b) for a week of unemployment, partial unemployment, or inability to work shall be—

(A)

(i) the weekly benefit amount authorized under the unemployment compensation law of the State where the covered individual was employed, except that the amount may not be less than the minimum weekly benefit amount described in section 625.6 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and

(ii) the amount of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation under section 9023 of this title; and

(B) in the case of an increase of the weekly benefit amount after March 27, 2020, increased in an amount equal to such increase.

(2) Calculations of amounts for certain covered individuals

(3) Allowable methods of paymentAny assistance provided for in accordance with paragraph (1)(A)(ii) shall be payable either—

(A) as an amount which is paid at the same time and in the same manner as the assistance provided for in paragraph (1)(A)(i) is payable for the week involved; or

(B) at the option of the State, by payments which are made separately from, but on the same weekly basis as, any assistance provided for in paragraph (1)(A)(i).

(4) Waiver authorityIn the case of individuals who have received amounts of pandemic unemployment assistance to which they were not entitled, the State shall require such individuals to repay the amounts of such pandemic unemployment assistance to the State agency, except that the State agency may waive such repayment if it determines that—

(A) the payment of such pandemic unemployment assistance was without fault on the part of any such individual; and

(B) such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.

(e) Waiver of State requirement

(f) Agreements with States

(1) In general

(2) Payments to StatesThere shall be paid to each State which has entered into an agreement under this subsection an amount equal to 100 percent of—

(A) the total amount of assistance provided by the State pursuant to such agreement; and

(B) any additional administrative expenses incurred by the State by reason of such agreement (as determined by the Secretary), including any administrative expenses necessary to facilitate processing of applications for assistance under this section online or by telephone rather than in-person and expenses related to identity verification or validation and timely and accurate payment.

(3) Terms of payments

(g) Funding

(1) Assistance

(A) In general

(B) Transfer of funds

(2) Administrative expenses

(A) In general

(B) Transfer of funds

(3) Certifications

(h) Relationship between pandemic unemployment assistance and disaster unemployment assistanceExcept as otherwise provided in this section or to the extent there is a conflict between this section and part 625 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, such part 625 shall apply to this section as if—

(1) the term “COVID–19 public health emergency” were substituted for the term “major disaster” each place it appears in such part 625; and

(2) the term “pandemic” were substituted for the term “disaster” each place it appears in such part 625.

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2102, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 313; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, §§ 201(a)–(c)(1), (d), 209(a), 241(a), 242(a), 263(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1950—1952, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1963; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9011(a), (b), Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 118.)

§ 9022. Flexibility in paying reimbursement

The Secretary of Labor may issue clarifying guidance to allow States to interpret their State unemployment compensation laws in a manner that would provide maximum flexibility to reimbursing employers as it relates to timely payment and assessment of penalties and interest pursuant to such State laws.

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2103(a), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 317.)

§ 9023. Emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits

(a) Federal-State agreements

(b) Provisions of agreement

(1) Federal Pandemic Unemployment CompensationAny agreement under this section shall provide that the State agency of the State will make payments of regular compensation to individuals in amounts and to the extent that they would be determined if the State law of the State were applied, with respect to any week for which the individual is (disregarding this section) otherwise entitled under the State law to receive regular compensation, as if such State law had been modified in a manner such that the amount of regular compensation (including dependents’ allowances) payable for any week shall be equal to—

(A) the amount determined under the State law (before the application of this paragraph), plus

(B) an additional amount equal to the amount specified in paragraph (3) (in this section referred to as “Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation”), plus

(C) an additional amount of $100 (in this section referred to as “Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation”) in any case in which the individual received at least $5,000 of self-employment income (as defined in section 1402(b) of title 26) in the most recent taxable year ending prior to the individual’s application for regular compensation.

(2) Allowable methods of paymentAny Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation provided for in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be payable either—

(A) as an amount which is paid at the same time and in the same manner as any regular compensation otherwise payable for the week involved; or

(B) at the option of the State, by payments which are made separately from, but on the same weekly basis as, any regular compensation otherwise payable.

(3) Amount of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

(A)1

1 So in original. No subpar. (B) has been enacted.

In generalThe amount specified in this paragraph is the following amount:

(i) For weeks of unemployment beginning after the date on which an agreement is entered into under this section and ending on or before July 31, 2020, $600.

(ii) For weeks of unemployment beginning after December 26, 2020 (or, if later, the date on which such agreement is entered into), and ending on or before September 6, 2021, $300.

(4) Certain documentation required

(1) In general

(2) Maximum benefit entitlement

(d) Payments to States

(1) In general

(A) Full reimbursementThere shall be paid to each State which has entered into an agreement under this section an amount equal to 100 percent of—

(i) the total amount of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation paid to individuals by the State pursuant to such agreement; and

(ii) any additional administrative expenses incurred by the State by reason of such agreement (as determined by the Secretary).

(B) Terms of payments

(2) Certifications

(3) Appropriation

(e) ApplicabilityAn agreement entered into under this section shall apply—

(1) to weeks of unemployment beginning after the date on which such agreement is entered into and ending on or before July 31, 2020; and

(2) to weeks of unemployment beginning after December 26, 2020 (or, if later, the date on which such agreement is entered into), and ending on or before September 6, 2021.

(f) Fraud and overpayments

(1) In generalIf an individual knowingly has made, or caused to be made by another, a false statement or representation of a material fact, or knowingly has failed, or caused another to fail, to disclose a material fact, and as a result of such false statement or representation or of such nondisclosure such individual has received an amount of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation to which such individual was not entitled, such individual—

(A) shall be ineligible for further Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation in accordance with the provisions of the applicable State unemployment compensation law relating to fraud in connection with a claim for unemployment compensation; and

(B) shall be subject to prosecution under section 1001 of title 18.

(2) RepaymentIn the case of individuals who have received amounts of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation to which they were not entitled, the State shall require such individuals to repay the amounts of such Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation to the State agency, except that the State agency may waive such repayment if it determines that—

(A) the payment of such Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation was without fault on the part of any such individual; and

(B) such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.

(3) Recovery by State agency

(A) In general

(B) Opportunity for hearing

(4) Review

(g) Application to other unemployment benefitsEach agreement under this section shall include provisions to provide that—

(1) the purposes of the preceding provisions of this section, as such provisions apply with respect to Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, shall be applied with respect to unemployment benefits described in subsection (i)(2) to the same extent and in the same manner as if those benefits were regular compensation; and

(2) the purposes of the preceding provisions of this section, as such provisions apply with respect to Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, shall be applied with respect to unemployment benefits described in subparagraph (A), (B), (D), or (E) of subsection (i)(2) to the same extent and in the same manner as if those benefits were regular compensation.

(h) Disregard of additional compensation for purposes of Medicaid and CHIP

(i) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—

(1) the terms “compensation”, “regular compensation”, “benefit year”, “State”, “State agency”, “State law”, and “week” have the respective meanings given such terms under section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note); and

(2) any reference to unemployment benefits described in this paragraph shall be considered to refer to—

(A) extended compensation (as defined by section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970);

(B) regular compensation (as defined by section 85(b) of title 26) provided under any program administered by a State under an agreement with the Secretary;

(D) pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under section 9025 of this title; and

(E) short-time compensation under a short-time compensation program (as defined in section 3306(v) of title 26).

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2104, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 318; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, §§ 203, 261(a), (b)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1953, 1961; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9013, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 119.)

§ 9024. Temporary full Federal funding of the first week of compensable regular unemployment for States with no waiting week

(a) Federal-State agreements

(b) Requirement that State law does not apply a waiting week

(1) Full reimbursement

(A) the total amount of regular compensation paid to individuals by the State for their first week of regular unemployment; and

(B) any additional administrative expenses incurred by the State by reason of such agreement (as determined by the Secretary).

(2) Terms of payments

(d) Funding

(1) Compensation

(A) In general

(B) Transfer of funds

(2) Administrative expenses

(A) In general

(B) Transfer of funds

(3) Certifications

(e) Applicability

An agreement entered into under this section shall apply to weeks of unemployment—

(1) beginning after the date on which such agreement is entered into; and

(2) ending on or before September 6, 2021.

(f) Fraud and overpayments

(g) Definitions

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2105, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 321; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, § 204, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1953; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9014, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 119.)

§ 9025. Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation

(a) Federal-State agreements

(1) In general

(2) Provisions of agreementAny agreement under paragraph (1) shall provide that the State agency of the State will make payments of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation to individuals who—

(A) have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under the State law or under Federal law with respect to a benefit year (excluding any benefit year that ended before July 1, 2019);

(B) have no rights to regular compensation with respect to a week under such law or any other State unemployment compensation law or to compensation under any other Federal law;

(D) are able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work.

(3) Exhaustion of benefitsFor purposes of paragraph (2)(A), an individual shall be deemed to have exhausted such individual’s rights to regular compensation under a State law when—

(A) no payments of regular compensation can be made under such law because such individual has received all regular compensation available to such individual based on employment or wages during such individual’s base period; or

(B) such individual’s rights to such compensation have been terminated by reason of the expiration of the benefit year with respect to which such rights existed.

(4) Weekly benefit amount, etc.For purposes of any agreement under this section—

(A) the amount of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation which shall be payable to any individual for any week of total unemployment shall be equal to—

(i) the amount of the regular compensation (including dependents’ allowances) payable to such individual during such individual’s benefit year under the State law for a week of total unemployment;

(ii) the amount of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation under section 9023(b)(1)(B) of this title; and

(iii) the amount (if any) of Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation under section 9023(b)(1)(C) of this title;

(B) the terms and conditions of the State law which apply to claims for regular compensation and to the payment thereof (including terms and conditions relating to availability for work, active search for work, and refusal to accept work) shall apply to claims for pandemic emergency unemployment compensation and the payment thereof, except where otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this section or with the regulations or operating instructions of the Secretary promulgated to carry out this section;

1 So in original. Probably should be “a”.

pandemic emergency unemployment compensation account is established under subsection (b) shall not exceed the amount established in such account for such individual; and

(D) the allowable methods of payment under section 9023(b)(2) of this title shall apply to payments of amounts described in subparagraph (A)(ii).

(5) Coordination rules

(A) In general

(B) Special rule

(6) Nonreduction rule

(A) In general

(B) Maximum benefit entitlement

(7) Actively seeking work

(A) In generalSubject to subparagraph (C),2

2 So in original.

for purposes of paragraph (2)(D), the term “actively seeking work” means, with respect to any individual, that such individual—

(i) is registered for employment services in such a manner and to such extent as prescribed by the State agency;

(ii) has engaged in an active search for employment that is appropriate in light of the employment available in the labor market, the individual’s skills and capabilities, and includes a number of employer contacts that is consistent with the standards communicated to the individual by the State;

(iii) has maintained a record of such work search, including employers contacted, method of contact, and date contacted; and

(iv) when requested, has provided such work search record to the State agency.

(B) Flexibility

(8) Special rule for extended compensationAt the option of a State, for any weeks of unemployment beginning after December 27, 2020, and before September 6, 2021, an individual’s eligibility period (as described in section 203(c) of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note)) shall, for purposes of any determination of eligibility for extended compensation under the State law of such State, be considered to include any week which begins—

(A) after the date as of which such individual exhausts all rights to pandemic emergency unemployment compensation; and

(B) during an extended benefit period that began on or before the date described in subparagraph (A).

(b) Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation account

(1) In general

(2) Amount in account

(3) Weekly benefit amount

(4) Coordination of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation with regular compensation

(A) In generalIf—

(i) an individual has been determined to be entitled to pandemic emergency unemployment compensation with respect to a benefit year;

(ii) that benefit year has expired;

(iii) that individual has remaining entitlement to pandemic emergency unemployment compensation with respect to that benefit year; and

(iv) that individual would qualify for a new benefit year in which the weekly benefit amount of regular compensation is at least $25 less than the individual’s weekly benefit amount in the benefit year referred to in clause (i),

then the State shall determine eligibility for compensation as provided in subparagraph (B).

(B) Determination of eligibilityFor individuals described in subparagraph (A), the State shall determine whether the individual is to be paid pandemic emergency unemployment compensation or regular compensation for a week of unemployment using one of the following methods:

(i) The State shall, if permitted by State law, establish a new benefit year, but defer the payment of regular compensation with respect to that new benefit year until exhaustion of all pandemic emergency unemployment compensation payable with respect to the benefit year referred to in subparagraph (A)(i).

(ii) The State shall, if permitted by State law, defer the establishment of a new benefit year (which uses all the wages and employment which would have been used to establish a benefit year but for the application of this subparagraph), until exhaustion of all pandemic emergency unemployment compensation payable with respect to the benefit year referred to in subparagraph (A)(i).

(iii) The State shall pay, if permitted by State law—(I) regular compensation equal to the weekly benefit amount established under the new benefit year; and(II) pandemic emergency unemployment compensation equal to the difference between that weekly benefit amount and the weekly benefit amount for the expired benefit year.

(iv) The State shall determine rights to pandemic emergency unemployment compensation without regard to any rights to regular compensation if the individual elects to not file a claim for regular compensation under the new benefit year.

(1) In general

(2) Treatment of reimbursable compensation

(3) Determination of amount

(d) Financing provisions

(1) Compensation

(A) In general

(B) Transfer of funds

(2) Administration

(A) In general

(B) Transfer of funds

(3) Certification

(e) Fraud and overpayments

(1) In generalIf an individual knowingly has made, or caused to be made by another, a false statement or representation of a material fact, or knowingly has failed, or caused another to fail, to disclose a material fact, and as a result of such false statement or representation or of such nondisclosure such individual has received an amount of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under this section to which such individual was not entitled, such individual—

(A) shall be ineligible for further pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under this section in accordance with the provisions of the applicable State unemployment compensation law relating to fraud in connection with a claim for unemployment compensation; and

(B) shall be subject to prosecution under section 1001 of title 18.

(2) RepaymentIn the case of individuals who have received amounts of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under this section to which they were not entitled, the State shall require such individuals to repay the amounts of such pandemic emergency unemployment compensation to the State agency, except that the State agency may waive such repayment if it determines that—

(A) the payment of such pandemic emergency unemployment compensation was without fault on the part of any such individual; and

(B) such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.

(3) Recovery by State agency

(A) In general

(B) Opportunity for hearing

(4) Review

(f) Definitions

(g) ApplicabilityAn agreement entered into under this section shall apply to weeks of unemployment—

(1) beginning after the date on which such agreement is entered into; and

(2) ending on or before September 6, 2021.

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2107, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 323; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, §§ 206(a)–(c), 261(b)(2), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1954, 1962; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9016(a)–(d), Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 119, 120.)

§ 9026. Temporary financing of short-time compensation payments in States with programs in law

(a) Payments to States

(1) In general

(2) Terms of payments

(3) Limitations on payments

(A) General payment limitations

(B) Employer limitations

(b) Applicability

Payments to a State under subsection (a) shall be available for weeks of unemployment—

(1) beginning on or after March 27, 2020; and

(2) ending on or before September 6, 2021.

(d) Funding and certifications

(1) Funding

(2) Certifications

(e) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Secretary

(2) State; State agency; State law

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2108, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 328; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, § 207, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1956; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9017, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 120.)

§ 9027. Temporary financing of short-time compensation agreements

(a) Federal-State agreements

(1) In general

(2) Ability to terminate

(b) Provisions of Federal-State agreement

(1) In general

(2) Limitations on plans

(A) General payment limitations

(B) Employer limitations

(3) Employer payment of costs

(1) In general

There shall be paid to each State with an agreement under this section an amount equal to—

(A) one-half of the amount of short-time compensation paid to individuals by the State pursuant to such agreement; and

(B) any additional administrative expenses incurred by the State by reason of such agreement (as determined by the Secretary).

(2) Terms of payments

(3) Funding

(4) Certifications

(d) Applicability

An agreement entered into under this section shall apply to weeks of unemployment—

(1) beginning on or after the date on which such agreement is entered into; and

(2) ending on or before September 6, 2021.

(e) Special rule

If a State has entered into an agreement under this section and subsequently enacts a State law providing for the payment of short-time compensation under a short-time compensation program that meets the definition of such a program under section 3306(v) of title 26, the State—

(1) shall not be eligible for payments under this section for weeks of unemployment beginning after the effective date of such State law; and

(2) subject to section 9026(b)(2) of this title, shall be eligible to receive payments under section 9026 of this title after the effective date of such State law.

(f) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Secretary

(2) State; State agency; State law

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2109, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 329; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, § 208, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1956; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9018, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 120.)

§ 9028. Grants for short-time compensation programs

(a) Grants

(1) For implementation or improved administration

(2) For promotion and enrollment

(3) Eligibility

(A) In general

(B) Clarification

(b) Amount of grants

(1) In general

(2) Amount available for different grantsOf the maximum incentive payment determined under paragraph (1) with respect to a State—

(A) one-third shall be available for a grant under subsection (a)(1); and

(B) two-thirds shall be available for a grant under subsection (a)(2).

(1) Application

(2) Notice

(3) Certification

(4) RequirementNo certification of compliance with the requirements for a grant under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) may be made with respect to any State whose—

(A) State law is not otherwise eligible for certification under section 503 of title 42 or approvable under section 3304 of title 26; or

(B) short-time compensation program is subject to discontinuation or is not scheduled to take effect within 12 months of the certification.

(d) Use of fundsThe amount of any grant awarded under this section shall be used for the implementation of short-time compensation programs and the overall administration of such programs and the promotion and enrollment efforts associated with such programs, such as through—

(1) the creation or support of rapid response teams to advise employers about alternatives to layoffs;

(2) the provision of education or assistance to employers to enable them to assess the feasibility of participating in short-time compensation programs; and

(3) the development or enhancement of systems to automate—

(A) the submission and approval of plans; and

(B) the filing and approval of new and ongoing short-time compensation claims.

(e) Administration

(f) RecoupmentThe Secretary shall establish a process under which the Secretary shall recoup the amount of any grant awarded under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that, during the 5-year period beginning on the first date that any such grant is awarded to the State, the State—

(1) terminated the State’s short-time compensation program; or

(2) failed to meet appropriate requirements with respect to such program (as established by the Secretary).

(g) Funding

(h) Reporting

(i) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Secretary

(2) Short-time compensation program

(3) State; State agency; State law

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2110, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 331.)

§ 9029. Assistance and guidance in implementing programs

(a) In generalIn order to assist States in establishing, qualifying, and implementing short-time compensation programs (as defined in section 3306(v) of title 26), the Secretary of Labor (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall—

(1) develop model legislative language, or disseminate existing model legislative language, which may be used by States in developing and enacting such programs, and periodically review and revise such model legislative language;

(2) provide technical assistance and guidance in developing, enacting, and implementing such programs; and

(3) establish reporting requirements for States, including reporting on—

(A) the number of estimated averted layoffs;

(B) the number of participating employers and workers; and

(b) Model language and guidance

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2111, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 333.)

§ 9030. Waiver of the 7-day waiting period for benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act

(a) No waiting week

(b) Operating instructions and regulations

(d) Definition of registration period

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2112, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 333; Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, § 234(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1958; Pub. L. 117–2, title II, § 2903(a), Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 50.)

§ 9031. Funding for the DOL Office of Inspector General for oversight of unemployment provisions

There are appropriated, out of moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Labor, $25,000,000 to carry out audits, investigations, and other oversight activities authorized under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) 1

1 See References in Text note below.

that are related to the provisions of, and amendments made by, this subtitle, to remain available without fiscal year limitation.

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2115, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 334.)

§ 9032. Implementation

(a) Non-application of the Paperwork Reduction Act

(b) Operating instructions or other guidance

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2116, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 335.)

§ 9033. Return to work reporting

Each State participating in an agreement under any of the preceding sections of this subtitle shall have in effect a method to address any circumstances in which, during any period during which such agreement is in effect, claimants of unemployment compensation refuse to return to work or to accept an offer of suitable work without good cause. Such method shall include the following:

(1) A reporting method for employers, such as through a phone line, email, or online portal, to notify the State agency when an individual refuses an offer of employment.

(2) A plain-language notice provided to such claimants about State return to work laws, rights to refuse to return to work or to refuse suitable work, including what constitutes suitable work, and a claimant’s right to refuse work that poses a risk to the claimant’s health or safety, and information on contesting the denial of a claim that has been denied due to a report by an employer that the claimant refused to return to work or refused suitable work.

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2117, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title II, § 251(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1961.)

§ 9034. Funding for fraud prevention, equitable access, and timely payment to eligible workers

(a) In general

(b) Use of funds

Amounts made available under subsection (a) may be used—

(1) for Federal administrative costs related to the purposes described in subsection (a);

(2) for systemwide infrastructure investment and development related to such purposes; and

(3) to make grants to States or territories administering unemployment compensation programs described in subsection (a) (including territories administering the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program under section 9021 of this title) for such purposes, including the establishment of procedures or the building of infrastructure to verify or validate identity, implement Federal guidance regarding fraud detection and prevention, and accelerate claims processing or process claims backlogs due to the pandemic.

As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary may require that a State or territory receiving such a grant shall—

(1) use such program integrity tools as the Secretary may specify; and

(2) as directed by the Secretary, conduct user accessibility testing on any new system developed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b)(2).

(Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title II, § 2118, as added Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9032, Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 121.)