Chapter 34 Oregon Laws 2003

AN ACT

SB 2

Relating to emergency unemployment benefits; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section:

(a) “Emergency benefit period” means a period beginning the week after the effective date of this 2003 Act and ending on December 27, 2003.

(b) “Oregon emergency benefits” means unemployment benefits totally financed by the state and payable under ORS chapter 657 to individuals described in subsection (2) of this section during an emergency benefit period.

(c) “Regular benefits” has the meaning given that term in ORS 657.321.

(2) During an emergency benefit period, an individual may receive Oregon emergency benefits in an amount equal to the weekly benefit amount of the individual's most recent regular unemployment benefit claim subject to the provisions of ORS chapter 657 if:

(a) The individual has exhausted regular benefits under ORS chapter 657;

(b) The individual is not eligible for any other unemployment benefits, including benefits provided under any federal law extending benefits beyond those provided for as regular benefits;

(c) The individual otherwise continues to meet the eligibility requirements for regular benefits under ORS chapter 657; and

(d) The individual's benefit year expired after January 5, 2002.

(3) The maximum Oregon emergency benefits an individual may receive under this section is 50 percent of the individual's most recent regular unemployment benefit claim.

(4) The Employment Department may not charge an employer's account for benefits paid to an unemployed individual under this section. Notwithstanding ORS 657.504, reimbursing political subdivisions, reimbursing nonprofit employers and reimbursing Indian tribes are not required to pay into the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund an amount equal to the benefits paid to an unemployed individual under this section.

(5)(a) The provisions of this section apply only for weeks beginning the week after the effective date of this 2003 Act and ending on December 27, 2003.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, the Director of the Employment Department may immediately stop payments of Oregon emergency benefits when the director determines that the total of such payments would exceed $29 million if paid for the succeeding calendar week.

SECTION 2. This 2003 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2003 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor April 1, 2003

Filed in the office of Secretary of State April 2, 2003

Effective date April 1, 2003

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