Signed by Governor Tom Wolf

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires unemployment compensation benefit notification by employers, and further provides for relief from charges and other emergency relief provisions related to COVID-19.

Highlights:

• Requires all employers provide the following notifications on the availability of unemployment compensation to their employees at the time of termination, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• The availability of unemployment compensation benefits to workers who are unemployed and meet the requirements of this act;

• Ability of an employee to file an unemployment compensation claim in the first week of their employment termination; and

• The availability of assistance or information about an unemployment compensation claim on the Department’s publicly accessible internet website.

• Specifies that an employee will need to document the following information in order to file an unemployment claim, including (Sec. 1):

• Their full legal name;

• Their social security number; and

• If not a citizen or resident, authorization to work in the United States.

• Extends the time period to file an unemployment claim after a layoff from 15 to 21 days after the earliest possible notice of employment termination (Sec. 1).

• Defines “COVID-19” as the novel coronavirus as identified in the governor’s proclamation (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the secretary of labor and industry to waive provisions of this act such as the one week waiting period and the weekly employment application requirements in order to ease eligibility requirements and access to unemployment compensation for claimants whose unemployment is related to the COVID-19 outbreak (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that employers shall be eligible for relief of unemployment charges for the duration of the disaster emergency declared by the governor in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text