National Signing Bonus Act of 2021

To support both workers and recovery by converting expanded Federal unemployment payments into signing bonuses. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Signing Bonus Act of 2021 2. National signing bonuses (a) In general Section 2104(b) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023(b) (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Back-to-work bonuses (A) In general Any agreement under this section may also provide that the State agency of the State may make up to 2 lump-sum payments (in this paragraph referred to as the first lump-sum payment second lump-sum payment (i) was eligible for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation under paragraph (1) for— (I) any week beginning after the date of enactment of the National Signing Bonus Act of 2021 (II) at least the 8 weeks immediately preceding the week under subclause (I); (ii) is no longer eligible for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation under paragraph (1) (as determined by the State), as a result of earnings due to commencing employment with an employer by whom the individual has not been employed during the preceding 6 months; and (iii) as verified by the individual’s employer pursuant to subparagraph (E)— (I) has been employed by a non-governmental employer throughout— (aa) in the case of the first lump-sum payment, the individual’s first qualifying period; and (bb) in the case of the second lump-sum payment, the individual’s second qualifying period; and (II) remains employed with an intent to continue such employment. (B) Amount (i) First lump-sum payment With respect to the first qualifying period, a payment made to an individual under this paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum amount of $1,212. (ii) Second lump-sum payment With respect to the second qualifying period, a payment made to an individual under this paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum amount of $1,212. (C) Qualifying periods (i) First qualifying period For purposes of this paragraph, the term first qualifying period (I) beginning on the date the individual commenced employment as described in subparagraph (A)(ii); and (II) extending at least 4 consecutive weeks from such date. (ii) Second qualifying period For purposes of this paragraph, the term second qualifying period (I) beginning on the date the individual commenced employment as described in subparagraph (A)(ii) (with the same employer with whom the individual qualified for the first lump-sum payment under this paragraph); and (II) extending at least 8 consecutive weeks from such date. (D) Duration A first or second lump-sum payment may not be made to any individual under this paragraph with respect to a first or second qualifying period beginning on or after July 4, 2021. (E) Employer verification required for both lump-sum payments Before making the first and second lump-sum payment to an individual pursuant to this paragraph, a State agency shall require verification from the individual’s employer— (i) of the individual’s employment status; (ii) of the wages paid to the individual during the applicable qualifying period; and (iii) of the hours worked by the individual during the applicable qualifying period. (F) Limitation A State may not provide more than one first lump-sum payment and one second lump-sum payment under this paragraph to an individual. (G) Special rule Payments made pursuant to an agreement under this paragraph shall not be considered to violate the withdrawal requirements of section 303(a)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(5) section 3304(a)(4) . (b) Conforming amendments Section 2104 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023 (1) in subsections (d) and (f), by inserting , payments under subsection (b)(4), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (2) in subsection (g)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (3) the purposes of the preceding provisions of this section, as such provisions apply with respect to payments under subsection (b)(4), shall be applied with respect to unemployment benefits described in subsection (i)(2) to the same extent and in the same manner as if those benefits were regular compensation. .

Summary: National Signing Bonus Act of 2021 This bill replaces existing Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments for unemployed individuals with two-time signing bonuses for newly employed individuals. Specifically, the bill allows states to provide up to two direct payments to individuals who are eligible for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation prior to commencing employment with a new employer. The individual must continue employment with the new employer for at least four weeks before July 4, 2021, to be eligible for the first $1,212 payment under the bill and for at least eight weeks before July 4, 2021, to be eligible for the final $1,212 payment. The bill otherwise eliminates federal reimbursement for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments.