PUA Eligibility Clarification Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1206
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2021-04-19
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Unemployment
Latest action: action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S2036)

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-04-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>PUA Eligibility Clarification Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill revokes the authority of the Department of Labor to establish additional eligibility criteria for COVID-19 pandemic unemployment assistance with respect to self-certification by individuals who are directly affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.</p> <p>Labor must rescind the guidance titled <em>Expanded Eligibility Provisions for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program</em>, issued on February 25, 2021. The guidance makes individuals eligible to receive regular unemployment compensation and COVID-19 PUA if they (1) refuse an offer to work or return to work because of certain safety concerns, (2) provide services to educational institutions or educational service agencies, and (3) experience a reduction of hours or a temporary or permanent layoff.</p> <p>A recipient of such PUA before enactment of this bill is not required to repay it. However, this requirement excludes individuals who, as of such enactment, were approved for PUA but have not received it.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1206 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 19, 2021 Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Crapo , and Mr. Cornyn ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To limit the authority of the Secretary of Labor to modify the pandemic unemployment assistance program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the PUA Eligibility Clarification Act of 2021 . 2. Pandemic unemployment assistance (a) Amendments Section 2102(a)(3) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021(a)(3) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I)— (A) in item (ii), by adding or at the end; and (B) by striking item (kk); and (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking through (kk) and inserting through (jj) . (b) Repeal of guidance (1) In general The Secretary of Labor shall rescind the guidance entitled, Expanded Eligibility Provisions for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program, issued on February 25, 2021. (2) Repayment not required (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in the case of an individual who received pandemic unemployment assistance amounts pursuant to the guidance described in paragraph (1) before the date of enactment of this Act, the individual shall not be required to repay the amounts. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any individual who, as of the date of enactment of this Act, was approved to receive compensation amounts pursuant to the guidance described in paragraph (1)(A) but had not yet received the amounts.