71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Bill 3759
Sponsored by Representative HANSEN; Representatives ACKERMAN,
BARNHART, GARDNER, KAFOURY, LEONARD, MARCH, NELSON, NOLAN,
ROSENBAUM, V WALKER (at the request of Oregon AFL-CIO)
CHAPTER ................
AN ACT
Relating to unemployment compensation for dislocated workers;
creating new provisions; amending ORS 657.337 and 657.340; and
declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 657.337 is amended to read:
657.337. (1) The state's economic stability is often threatened
when workers are being displaced from the workforce and the
workers and their families face hardship and serious social and
health problems.
(2) The policy of the state is to promote workforce development
by providing eligible dislocated workers with unemployment
compensation and related benefits while they are receiving
professional technical training so that they can continue to care
for their families and obtain employment.
(3) The Employment Department and the { - Job Training
Partnership Act section of the - } Department of Community
Colleges and Workforce Development will implement the necessary
strategies, systems and structures { - which - } { + that + }
will provide consolidated, streamlined delivery of these services
to dislocated workers.
(4) It is the policy of the state to encourage the movement of
workers into higher wage jobs.
(5) It is the policy of the state to make the best use of
currently existing service delivery vehicles, training programs
and assessment devices to provide services to eligible dislocated
workers.
(6) In order to assist eligible dislocated workers to continue
or complete professional technical training, individuals who meet
the requirements of ORS 657.335 to 657.360 are eligible for
supplemental benefits as provided in ORS 657.340 { - , except
that the total amount of benefits payable from the Unemployment
Compensation Trust Fund shall not exceed $12 million, for the
biennium beginning July 1, 1995 - } { + through June 30,
2003 + }.
SECTION 2. ORS 657.340 is amended to read:
657.340. (1) Dislocated workers approved for professional
technical training shall not be denied unemployment insurance
benefits solely because they are attending professional technical
training, nor shall such individual be denied benefits by reason
of leaving work to enter such training if the work left was
Enrolled House Bill 3759 (HB 3759-A) Page 1
part-time or temporary or paid less than 80 percent of the
individual's average weekly wage during the base year.
(2) Notwithstanding provisions of this chapter relating to
availability for work, actively seeking work or refusal to accept
suitable work, dislocated workers approved for professional
technical training and otherwise eligible for benefits shall not
be ineligible for such benefits or waiting week credit because of
attendance in professional technical training.
(3) { + (a) + } Eligible dislocated workers who file valid
unemployment compensation claims, upon exhaustion of regular
benefits, are eligible, subject to the availability of funds, for
supplemental benefits from 1 to { - 39 - } { + 26 + } times
the individual's most recent weekly benefit amount based upon the
amount needed to continue or complete approved professional
technical training.
{ + (b) + } Supplemental benefits shall be paid under the
same terms and conditions as regular benefits under this chapter,
except that the Director of the Employment Department may extend
the benefit year of an individual attending an approved
professional technical training program a sufficient number of
weeks { - , but not more than 52 weeks, - } to allow the
individual to complete the training program.
{ + (c) + } Supplemental benefits under ORS 657.335 to
657.360 may be paid only when the eligible dislocated worker is
not eligible to receive extended benefits as provided in ORS
657.321 to 657.329 or additional benefits as provided in ORS
657.331 to 657.334.
{ + (d) Supplemental benefits may be paid only to eligible
dislocated workers whose unemployment, as determined by the
director, is substantially due to the lack of employment
opportunities in the workers' local labor market resulting from:
(A) High energy costs;
(B) Extended drought conditions and the attendant economic
conditions;
(C) Secondary effects of foreign trade; or
(D) A shift of production to another state or territory of the
United States. + }
(4) The receipt of supplemental benefits is conditioned upon
the individual's demonstrating satisfactory progress and
attendance in professional technical training.
SECTION 3. { + The amendments to ORS 657.337 and 657.340 by
sections 1 and 2 of this 2001 Act apply only to claims for
benefits filed on or after the effective date of this 2001
Act. + }
SECTION 4. { + This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1,
2001. + }
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Enrolled House Bill 3759 (HB 3759-A) Page 2
Passed by House June 19, 2001
...........................................................
Chief Clerk of House
...........................................................
Speaker of House
Passed by Senate June 25, 2001
...........................................................
President of Senate
Enrolled House Bill 3759 (HB 3759-A) Page 3
Received by Governor:
......M.,............., 2001
Approved:
......M.,............., 2001
...........................................................
Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
......M.,............., 2001
...........................................................
Secretary of State
Enrolled House Bill 3759 (HB 3759-A) Page 4