H. B. 4357


(By Delegates Caputo, Tucker, Kuhn,
Butcher, Linch, Boggs and Sparks)
[Introduced February 2, 2000; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]



A BILL to amend and reenact section three, article six-a, chapter twenty-one-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to granting the governor authority to grant an extension for unemployment compensation benefits when special circumstances exist.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section three, article six-a, chapter twenty-one-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6A. EXTENDED BENEFITS PROGRAM.
§21A-6A-3. Eligibility requirements for extended benefits.

(a) An individual shall be eligible to receive extended benefits with respect to any week of unemployment in his or her eligibility period, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, only if the commissioner finds that with respect to such week:
(1) He or she is an "exhaustee" as defined in subdivision ten, section one of this article,
(2) He or she has satisfied the eligibility requirements of this chapter for the receipt of regular benefits which are applicable to individuals claiming extended benefits, including not being subject to a disqualification for the receipt of benefits.
(b) The governor has authority to grant an individual extended benefits in the event the governor finds that special economic circumstances exist that otherwise justify the payment of the benefits.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to grant the governor authority to grant an extension for unemployment compensation benefits when special economic circumstances exist.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.