Chapter 11 Oregon Laws 2011

AN ACT

SB 638

Relating to extension of unemployment insurance 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 first week, as defined in ORS 657.010 (15), that begins after April 15, 2011, and ending on July 2, 2011, or on the date that the Director of the Employment Department stops payments of Oregon emergency benefits pursuant to section 2 of this 2011 Act.

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

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

(2) During the 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’s benefit year expired on or after April 29, 2007; and

(d) The individual otherwise continues to meet the eligibility requirements for regular benefits under ORS chapter 657.

(3) The maximum Oregon emergency benefits an individual may receive under this section is 23 percent of the individual’s most recent regular Oregon unemployment benefit claim.

(4) The Employment Department may not charge an employer’s account for Oregon emergency benefits paid to an unemployed individual under this section. However, nothing in this section may be construed to relieve this state, reimbursing political subdivisions, reimbursing nonprofit employers or reimbursing Indian tribes from paying into the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund an amount equal to the Oregon emergency benefits paid to an unemployed individual under this section.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 1 of this 2011 Act, the Director of the Employment Department shall immediately stop payments of Oregon emergency benefits when the total amount of payments made pursuant to section 1 of this 2011 Act would exceed $30 million if paid for the succeeding calendar week.

SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this 2011 Act are repealed on January 2, 2014.

SECTION 4. This 2011 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2011 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor March 24, 2011

Filed in the office of Secretary of State March 24, 2011

Effective date March 24, 2011

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