Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 11 - LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS (§§ 11-1-201 — 11-15-105) › Chapter 10 - DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES LAW (§§ 11-10-101 — 11-10-1018) › Subchapter 5 - BENEFITS GENERALLY (§§ 11-10-501 — 11-10-545) › Section 11-10-544 - Reciprocal arrangements with state and federal agencies

(a)
The Director of the Division of Workforce Services is authorized to enter into reciprocal arrangements with appropriate and duly authorized agencies of other states or of the federal government, or both, whereby:
(1)
Services performed by an individual for a single employing unit for which services are customarily performed in more than one (1) state shall be deemed to be services performed entirely within any one (1) of the states:
(A)
In which any part of the individual's service is performed;
(B)
In which the individual has his or her residence; or
(C)
In which the employing unit maintains a place of business, provided there is in effect, as to the services, an election, approved by the agency charged with the administration of the state's unemployment compensation law, pursuant to which all the services performed by the individual for the employing unit are deemed to be performed entirely within the state;
(2)
Potential rights to benefits accumulated under the unemployment compensation laws of one (1) or more states or under one (1) or more laws of the federal government, or both, may constitute the basis for the payment of benefits through a single appropriate agency under terms that the director finds will be fair and reasonable as to all affected interests and will not result in any substantial loss to the fund;
(3)
(A)
Wages or services, upon the basis of which an individual may become entitled to benefits under an unemployment compensation law of another state or of the federal government, shall be deemed to be wages for insured work for the purpose of determining his or her rights to benefits under this chapter. Wages for insured work, on the basis of which an individual may become entitled to benefits under this chapter, shall be deemed to be wages or services on the basis of which unemployment compensation under the law of another state or of the federal government is payable.
(B)
No arrangement shall be entered into unless it contains provisions for reimbursements to the fund for the benefits paid under this chapter upon the basis of the wages or services and provisions for reimbursements from the fund for such of the compensation paid under the other law upon the basis of wages for insured work as the director finds will be fair and reasonable as to all affected interests; and
(4)
Contributions due under this chapter with respect to wages for insured work shall, for the purposes of §§
11-10-716
-
11-10-722
, be deemed to have been paid to the fund as of the date payment was made as contributions under another state or federal unemployment compensation law, but no such arrangement shall be entered into unless it contains such provisions for reimbursement to the fund of the contributions and the actual earnings thereon as the director finds will be fair and reasonable as to all affected interests.
(b)
(1)
Reimbursements paid from the fund pursuant to subdivision (a)(3) of this section shall be deemed to be benefits for the purpose of §§
11-10-501
-
11-10-506
,
11-10-517
, and
11-10-801
-
11-10-804
.
(2)
The director is authorized to make to other state or federal agencies and to receive from other state or federal agencies reimbursements from or to the fund in accordance with arrangements entered into pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(c)
(1)
The administration of this chapter and of other state and federal unemployment compensation and public employment service laws will be promoted by cooperation between this state and other states and the appropriate federal agencies in exchanging services and making available facilities and information.
(2)
(A)
The director is authorized to make such investigations, secure and transmit such information, make available such services and facilities, and exercise such of the other powers provided herein with respect to the administration of this chapter as he or she deems necessary or appropriate to facilitate the administration of any unemployment compensation or public employment service law.
(B)
In like manner, the director is authorized to accept and utilize information, services, and facilities made available to this state by the agency charged with the administration of any other unemployment compensation or public employment service law.
(d)
To the extent permissible under the laws and United States Constitution, the director is authorized to enter into or cooperate in arrangements whereby facilities and services provided under this chapter and facilities and services provided under the unemployment compensation law of any foreign government may be utilized for the taking of claims and the payment of benefits under this chapter or under a similar law of the government.
(e)
The director is authorized to enter into reciprocal arrangements with appropriate and duly authorized agencies of other states or the federal government, or both, and to sign specific agreements to carry out the provisions of arrangements, and to enter into agreement with any federal agency to pay benefits as an agent of the United States Government under any law passed by the United States Congress for the purpose of paying benefits to employees of the United States or persons entitled to benefits by reason of service in the United States Armed Forces.
(f)
The director is authorized to make application for loans and grants with any governmental agency under any act of the United States Congress that authorizes the making of such loans and grants.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 274, eff. 7/1/2019.
Acts 1941, No. 391, § 18; 1955, No. 395, § 28; A.S.A. 1947, § 81-1121.