WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5427

By Delegate Worrell

[Introduced February 02, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Workforce Development then Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §21A-6-1d, all relating to unemployment eligibility; establishing the short title of "Promoting a Return to Work Act of 2024"; establishing a purpose; providing weekly search requirements; establishing acceptable work search activities; and setting an effective date.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 6. EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY; BENEFITS.

§21A-6-1d. Promoting a Return Work Act of 2024.

(a) Short title. - This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Promoting a Return to Work Act of 2024."

(b) Purpose.  - This Act strengthens the work search requirements of the unemployment insurance (UI) program and defines what constitutes acceptable work search activities on the part of claimants.

(c) Weekly work search requirements. - Claimants for weekly unemployment insurance benefits must complete at least four work search activities during the week for which they are applying for unemployment benefits. Failure to complete the required number of work search activities shall disqualify a claimant from collecting benefits for that week.

(d) Acceptable work search activities. - Only the following actions constitute acceptable work search activities for the purpose of complying with subsection (c) of this section, and each action shall be considered a single work search for that week:

(1) Submitting a resume to an employer;

(2) Completing and submitting a job application to an employer;

(3) Attending and completing an interview with an employer;

(4) Attending a job fair; or

(5) Participating in job skill training at a workforce center.

(e) Effective date. - The requirements of this Act shall be effective no later than 180 days after enrollment.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish the short title of "Promoting a Return to Work Act of 2024"; establish a purpose; provide weekly search requirements; establish acceptable work search activities; and set an effective date.

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