Signed by Governor Butch Otter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that extends unemployment benefits to certain individuals who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits.

Highlights:

• Extends unemployment benefits to eligible individuals from January 1, 2011, until December 31, 2011, using Federal funds provided under the Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (Sec. 1).

• -Specifies that an individual is eligible for extended benefits if he or she is (Sec. 1):
• An "exhaustee"; 
• Otherwise qualified for regular benefits; and 
• Has had 20 weeks of full-time employment during his or her base period.

• Defines "exhaustee" as an individual who has received all regular unemployment benefits for which he or she is eligible, who has no or insufficient wages on the basis of which he or she could establish a new benefit year, and who is not seeking Canadian unemployment benefits or benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits payment of extended benefits to unemployed individuals who fail to apply for or accept any offer of suitable work (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Governor to trigger, by means of an executive order, an extended benefits period whenever a program of unemployment benefits becomes available that is financed entirely by the Federal government (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a retroactive effective date of January 1, 2011 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text