Source: https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2011/sb1460/fulltext/
Timestamp: 2020-07-11 17:53:22
Document Index: 574344245

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 60', '§ 60', '§ 60', '§ 60', '§ 60', '§ 2296', '§ 2101', '§ 60', '§ 60', '§ 40', '§ 201', '§ 60', '§ 60', '§ 54', '§ 19', '§ 60', '§ 60']

SB1460E
SENATE BILL NO. 1460 Senate Amendments in [ ] -- February 8, 2011 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 60.2-613 and 60.2-618, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 60.2-613.1, relating to the establishment of a work-based training program for unemployed workers.
Patrons Prior to Engrossment-- Senators Locke, Barker, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Herring, Houck, Howell, Lucas, Marsden, Marsh, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Northam, Puckett, Puller, Reynolds, Saslaw, Ticer and Whipple
1. That §§ 60.2-613 and 60.2-618, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 60.2-613.1 as follows:
§ 60.2-613. Benefits not denied to individuals in training with approval of Commission.
A. No otherwise eligible individual shall be denied benefits for any week because he is in training with the approval of the Commission, including training under Section 134 of the Workforce Investment Act, nor shall such individual be denied benefits for any week in which he is in training with the approval of the Commission, including training under Section 134 of the Workforce Investment Act, by reason of the application of the provisions in subdivision 7 of § 60.2-612 relating to availability for work, or the provisions of subdivision 3 of § 60.2-618 relating to failure to apply for, or a refusal to accept, suitable work.
B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, no otherwise eligible individual shall be denied benefits for any week because he is in training approved under § 2296 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq.), nor shall such individual be denied benefits by reason of leaving work to enter such training, provided the work left is not suitable employment, or because of the application to any such week in training of provisions in this law (or any applicable federal unemployment compensation law), relating to availability for work, active search for work, or refusal to accept work.
C. For purposes of this section, "suitable employment" means, with respect to an individual, work of a substantially equal or higher skill level than the individual's past adversely affected employment, as defined for purposes of the Trade Act, and wages for such work at not less than eighty percent of the individual's average weekly wage as determined for the purposes of the Trade Act.
D. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, no otherwise eligible individual shall be denied benefits for any week because he is participating in workforce skills enhancement training under a plan approved by the Commission pursuant to § 60.2-613.1.
§ 60.2-613.1. Workforce skills enhancement training program.
"Approved plan" means an employer's workforce skills enhancement training plan that meets the requirements of this section.
"Eligible worker" means an individual who:
1. Is unemployed;
2. Is eligible for benefits under this title, including extended or emergency benefits, and is not disqualified for such benefits under this chapter; and
3. Has been employed at work paying less than 110 percent of the minimum wage established under Article 1.1 (§ 40.1-28.8 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 40.1 during his entire base period.
"Workforce skills enhancement training" means training and education that provides occupation-specific skills. "Workforce skills enhancement training" does not include programs of instruction for an individual that are primarily intended to lead to a baccalaureate or higher degree or training intended to prepare individuals for employment in occupations that require a baccalaureate or higher degree.
B. Eligible workers participating in workforce skills enhancement training may not be denied unemployment benefits solely because they are attending such training. Eligible workers who are participating in workforce skills enhancement training may not be denied unemployment benefits for refusing to accept work if the work offered interferes with the eligible worker's training schedule. Notwithstanding provisions of this title relating to availability for work and actively seeking work, eligible workers who are enrolled or participating in workforce skills enhancement training and who are otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits are not ineligible for benefits because of attending such training.
C The Commission shall adopt regulations necessary for the administration of this section, including procedures for approval, periodic review for continued approval, and disapproval of workforce skills enhancement training for eligible workers. Such regulations shall:
1. Allow eligible workers who have registered for employment services to receive workforce skills enhancement training from a potential employer for a maximum of 24 hours per week for up to six weeks;
2. Require employers seeking to offer workforce skills enhancement training to submit a plan to the Commission for conducting workforce skills enhancement training that meets the requirements of this section;
3. Permit eligible workers to qualify for up to $600 in training stipends, based on an average of $100 weekly, to help defray training-related costs such as child care and transportation, provided that the payment of such stipends shall be subject to the appropriation of funds for such purpose;
4. Provide that upon an eligible worker's completion of workforce skills enhancement training, the worker shall receive a training certificate for job skills and may be considered for employment;
5. Provide that the Commonwealth shall reimburse employers for the incremental increase in the employers' costs of workers' compensation insurance that directly results from the employer's provision of workforce skills enhancement training to eligible workers, provided that the payment of such reimbursements shall be subject to the appropriation of funds for such purpose;
6. Provide that a plan for workforce skills enhancement training shall not be approved unless:
a. The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to what would be given in a vocational school or academic educational instruction;
b. The training is for the benefit of the eligible worker;
c. Eligible workers trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under their close observation;
d. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the eligible worker trainees, and on occasion the employer's operations may actually be impeded;
e. The eligible worker trainees are not entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period; and
f. The employer and the eligible worker trainees understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training; and
7. Ensure that the participation by the eligible employee in an approved plan for workforce skills enhancement training does not subject the employer to the requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.) with respect to the eligible employee.
§ 60.2-618. (Contingent expiration date) Disqualification for benefits.
1. For any week benefits are claimed until he has performed services for an employer (i) during 30 days, whether or not such days are consecutive, or (ii) for 240 hours, and subsequently becomes totally or partially separated from such employment, if the Commission finds such individual is unemployed because he left work voluntarily without good cause. As used in this chapter, "good cause" shall not include (i) (a) voluntarily leaving work with an employer to become self-employed or (ii) (b) voluntarily leaving work with an employer to accompany or to join his or her spouse in a new locality. An individual shall not be deemed to have voluntarily left work solely because the separation was in accordance with a seniority-based policy.
(3) If as a condition of being employed the individual would be required to join a company union or to resign from or refrain from joining any bona fide labor organization; or
(4) If an individual refuses to accept new work if the work offered interferes with the eligible worker's scheduled participation in workforce skills enhancement training under a plan approved by the Commission pursuant to § 60.2-613.1; however, an individual's participation in workforce skills enhancement training under such a plan shall not alter the requirement that the individual apply for suitable work.
d. No individual shall be qualified for benefits during any week that such individual, in connection with an offer of suitable work, has a confirmed positive test for a nonprescribed controlled substance, identified as such in Chapter 34 (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) of Title 54.1, if the test is required as a condition of employment and (i) performed, and a sample is collected, in accordance with scientifically recognized standards by a laboratory accredited by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or the College of American Pathology, or the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, or the equivalent, or (ii) a United States Department of Transportation-qualified drug screen conducted in accordance with the employer's bona fide drug policy. The disqualification shall commence with the week in which such a test was conducted, and shall continue for the period of unemployment next ensuing until he has performed services for an employer (i) (a) during 30 days, whether or not such days are consecutive, or (ii) (b) for 240 hours, and subsequently becomes totally or partially separated from such employment.
4. For 52 weeks, beginning with the date of the determination or decision, if the Commission finds that such individual, within 36 calendar months immediately preceding such determination or decision, has made a false statement or representation knowing it to be false, or has knowingly failed to disclose a material fact, to obtain or increase any benefit or payment under this title, the unemployment compensation of any other state, or any other program of the federal government which is administered in any way under this title, either for himself or any other person. Additionally, such individual shall be ineligible for benefits until he has repaid the Commission the sum that has been fraudulently obtained.
6. If such separation arose as a condition of the individual's parole or release from a custodial or penal institution and such individual was participating in the Diversion Center Incarceration Program pursuant to § 19.2-316.3.
§ 60.2-618. (Contingent effective date) Disqualification for benefits.
1. For any week benefits are claimed until he has performed services for an employer (i) during 30 days, whether or not such days are consecutive, or (ii) for 240 hours, and subsequently becomes totally or partially separated from such employment, if the Commission finds such individual is unemployed because he left work voluntarily without good cause. As used in this chapter, "good cause" shall not include (i) (a) voluntarily leaving work with an employer to become self-employed or (ii) (b) voluntarily leaving work with an employer to accompany or to join his or her spouse in a new locality, except where an individual leaves employment to accompany his or her spouse to the location of the spouse's new duty assignment if (a) (1) the spouse is on active duty in the military or naval services of the United States; (b) (2) the spouse's relocation to a new military-related assignment is pursuant to a permanent change of station order; (c) (3) the location of the spouse's new duty assignment is not readily accessible from the individual's place of employment; and (d) (4) except for members of the Virginia National Guard relocating to a new assignment within the Commonwealth, the spouse's new duty assignment is located in a state that, pursuant to statute, does not deem a person accompanying a military spouse as a person leaving work voluntarily without good cause. An individual shall not be deemed to have voluntarily left work solely because the separation was in accordance with a seniority-based policy.
[ 2. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless funds for its implementation are appropriated by the General Assembly. ]
SENATE BILL NO. 1460 Offered January 21, 2011 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 60.2-613 and 60.2-618, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 60.2-613.1, relating to the establishment of a work-based training program for unemployed workers.
Patrons-- Locke, Herring, Howell, Lucas, McEachin and Reynolds
For a plain English description of this bill, comments, voting, tagging, etc., return to the main page for SB1460.