AN ACT CONCERNING UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 31-231a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) For a construction worker identified pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, the total unemployment benefit rate for the individual's benefit year commencing on or after April 1, 1996, shall be an amount equal to one twenty-sixth, rounded to the next lower dollar, of his or her total wages paid during that quarter of his or her current benefit year's base period in which wages were the highest but not less than fifteen dollars, and commencing on or after October 1, 2017, shall be an amount equal to one twenty-sixth, rounded to the next lower dollar, of the average of his or her total wages, as defined in section 31-222, paid during the three quarters of his or her current benefit year's base period but not less than fifty dollars nor more than the maximum benefit rate as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) For an individual not included in subsection (a) of this section, the individual's total unemployment benefit rate for his or her benefit year commencing after September 30, 1967, shall be an amount equal to one twenty-sixth, rounded to the next lower dollar, of the average of his or her total wages, as defined in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 31-222, paid during the two quarters of his or her current benefit year's base period in which such wages were highest but not less than fifteen dollars, and commencing on or after October 1, 2017, shall be an amount equal to one twenty-sixth, rounded to the next lower dollar, of the average of his or her current total wages, as defined in section 31-222, paid during the three quarters of his or her current benefit year's base period but not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred fifty-six dollars in any benefit year commencing on or after the first Sunday in July, 1982, nor more than sixty per cent rounded to the next lower dollar of the average wage of production and related workers in the state in any benefit year commencing on or after the first Sunday in October, 1983, and provided the maximum benefit rate in any benefit year commencing on or after the first Sunday in October, 1988, shall not increase more than eighteen dollars in any benefit year, such increase to be effective as of the first Sunday in October of such year, and further provided the maximum benefit rate shall not increase in any benefit year commencing on or after the first Sunday in October, 2017, if the Unemployment Trust Fund is less than seventy per cent solvent. The average wage of production and related workers in the state shall be determined by the administrator, on or before August fifteenth annually, as of the year ended the previous June thirtieth to be effective during the benefit year commencing on or after the first Sunday of the following October and shall be so determined in accordance with the standards for the determination of average production wages established by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(c) The administrator shall adopt regulations pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall specify the National Council on Compensation Insurance employee classification codes which identify construction workers covered by subsection (a) of this section and specify the manner and format in which employers shall report the identification of such workers to the administrator.

Sec. 2. Subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of section 31-236 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(4) During any week with respect to which the individual has received or is about to receive remuneration in the form of (A) wages in lieu of notice or dismissal payments, including severance or separation payment by an employer to an employee beyond the employee's wages upon termination of the employment relationship, [unless the employee was required to waive or forfeit a right or claim independently established by statute or common law, against the employer as a condition of receiving the payment,] or any payment by way of compensation for loss of wages, or any other state or federal unemployment benefits, except mustering out pay, terminal leave pay or any allowance or compensation granted by the United States under an Act of Congress to an ex-serviceperson in recognition of the ex-serviceperson's former military service, or any service-connected pay or compensation earned by an ex-serviceperson paid before or after separation or discharge from active military service, or (B) compensation for temporary disability under any workers' compensation law;

Statement of Purpose:

To update and reform unemployment compensation and ensure that the Unemployment Trust Fund remains solvent in future years.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]

H.B. 6461