This Week at the Statehouse – Week 16

It was a short week of floor debate as the majority party works behind the scenes negotiating an agreement prior to adjournment.

The unemployment benefits bill, HF 2355, had final passage this week and now goes to the Governor. The Senate receded on their amendment that would have required a one-week waiting period to get unemployment benefits. The bill reduces state unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 16 weeks and adjusts the amount of unemployment benefits for failure to accept work without good cause. Current law says Iowa Workforce Development decides when an individual has failed, without good cause, either to apply for available, suitable work when directed by the department or to accept suitable work when offered that individual. Work is suitable if the work meets all the other criteria and if the gross weekly wages for the work equal or exceed the following percentages of the individual’s average weekly wage for insured work paid to the individual during that quarter of the individual’s base period in which the individual’s wages were highest. The bill changes the percentages, as follows:

• 100% if the work is offered during the first week of unemployment (current law is 100% during the first five weeks)
• 90% if the work is offered during the second and third week of unemployment current law is 75% during the 6th through the 12th week)
• 80% if the work is offered during the fourth and fifth week of unemployment (current law is 70% during the 13th through the 18th week)
• 70% if the work is offered during the sixth through eighth week of unemployment
• 60% if the work if offered after the eighth week of unemployment (current law is 65% after the 18th week)

The House and Senate also passed SF 2383, the Governor’s workforce regulation bill. Division two of the bill applies to work-based learning. It would require the Department of Education to have a process for school boards to report annually on student participation in work-based learning programs. The Board of Educational Examiners would be required to develop a certification for work-based learning supervisors and this certification will be considered a professional development program. Prior to high school graduation, the students’ individualized career and academic plan would need to advise them how to successfully complete the free application for federal student aid and must identify the coursework and work-based learning needed in grades nine through twelve to support the student’s postsecondary education and career options.

We are still waiting on the state budget agreement. When the majority party comes to an agreement, the Legislature will come back into session and finish their work prior to adjournment. At this time, it is hard to determine when this will happen.

If you have any questions, please email me at mary.braun@uni.edu.