SENATE BILL
55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021
INTRODUCED BY
Bill B. O'Neill
AN ACT
RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION; PROVIDING CERTAIN EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 51-1-48 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1971, Chapter 209, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:
"51-1-48. DEFINITIONS--EXTENDED BENEFITS.--
A. As used in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, "extended benefit period" means a period that:
(1) begins with the third week after a week for which there is a state "on indicator";
(2) ends with either of the following weeks, whichever occurs later:
(a) the third week after the first week for which there is a state "off indicator"; or
(b) the thirteenth consecutive week of such period; and
(3) does not begin by reason of a state "on indicator" before the fourteenth week following the end of a prior extended benefit period that was in effect with respect to this state.
B. There is a state "on indicator" for this state for a week if the rate of insured unemployment not seasonally adjusted under this section for the period consisting of that week and the immediately preceding twelve weeks:
(1) equaled or exceeded one hundred twenty percent of the average of the rates for the corresponding thirteen-week period ending in each of the preceding two calendar years; and
(2) equaled or exceeded five percent; or
(3) equaled or exceeded six percent, regardless of the rate of insured unemployment in the two previous years; provided that the operation of this paragraph shall not activate the state "on indicator" any time after four weeks prior to the last week for which one hundred percent federal sharing funding is available under Section 2005(a) of Public Law No. 111-5, without regard to the extension of federal sharing for certain claims as provided under Section 2005(c) of that law; or
(4) with respect to benefits for weeks of unemployment beginning [after July 1, 2003 and ending four weeks prior to the last week for which one hundred percent federal sharing funding is available under Section 2005(a) of Public Law No. 111-5, without regard to the extension of federal sharing for certain claims as provided under Section 2005(c) of that law] on or after the effective date of this 2021 act:
(a) the average rate of total unemployment, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the period consisting of the most recent three months for which data for all states are published before the close of such week equals or exceeds six and one-half percent; and
(b) the average rate of total unemployment in this state, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the three-month period referred to in Subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, equals or exceeds one hundred ten percent of such average [1)] for either or both of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the two preceding calendar years [or 2) for weeks of unemployment beginning after December 17, 2010 and ending before December 31, 2011, for any or all of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the three preceding calendar years].
C. There is a state "off indicator" for this state for a week only if, for the period consisting of that week and the immediately preceding twelve weeks, none of the options specified in Subsection B of this section result in a state "on indicator".
D. Except as provided in Subsection E of this section, the total extended benefit amount payable to an eligible individual with respect to the applicable benefit year shall be the least of the following amounts:
(1) fifty percent of the total amount of regular benefits that were payable to the individual pursuant to this section in the individual's applicable benefit year;
(2) thirteen times the individual's average weekly benefit amount that was payable to the individual pursuant to this section for a week of total unemployment in the applicable benefit year; or
(3) thirty-nine times the individual's average weekly benefit amount that was payable to the individual pursuant to this section for a week of total unemployment in the applicable benefit year, reduced by the total amount of regular benefits that were paid, or deemed paid, to the individual pursuant to this section with respect to the benefit year; provided that the amount determined pursuant to this paragraph shall be reduced by the total amount of additional benefits paid, or deemed paid, to the individual under the provisions of this section for weeks of unemployment in the individual's benefit year that began prior to the effective date of the extended benefit period that is current in the week for which the individual first claims extended benefits; and provided further, if the benefit year of the individual ends within an extended benefit period, the remaining balance of the extended benefits that the individual would, but for this paragraph, be entitled to receive in that extended benefit period, with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning after the end of the benefit year, shall be reduced, but not below zero, by the product of the number of weeks for which the individual received any amounts as readjustment allowances within that benefit year multiplied by the individual weekly benefit amount for extended benefits.
E. Effective with respect to weeks beginning in a high-unemployment period, the total extended benefit amount payable to an eligible individual with respect to the applicable benefit year shall be the least of the following amounts:
(1) eighty percent of the total amount of regular benefits that were payable to the individual pursuant to this section in the individual's applicable benefit year;
(2) twenty times the individual's average weekly benefit amount that was payable to the individual pursuant to this section for a week of total unemployment in the applicable benefit year; or
(3) forty-six times the individual's average weekly benefit amount that was payable to the individual pursuant to this section for a week of total unemployment in the applicable benefit year reduced by the total amount of regular benefits that were paid, or deemed paid, to the individual pursuant to this section with respect to the benefit year; provided that the amount determined pursuant to this paragraph shall be reduced by the total amount of additional benefits paid, or deemed paid, to the individual under the provisions of this section for weeks of unemployment in the individual's benefit year that began prior to the effective date of the extended benefit period that is current in the week for which the individual first claims extended benefits; and provided further, if the benefit year of an individual ends within an extended benefit period, the remaining balance of the extended benefits that the individual would, but for this paragraph, be entitled to receive in that extended benefit period, with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning after the end of the benefit year, shall be reduced, but not below zero, by the product of the number of weeks for which the individual received any amounts as readjustment allowances within that benefit year multiplied by the individual weekly benefit amount for extended benefits.
F. For purposes of Subsection E of this section, "high-unemployment period" means a period during which an extended benefit period would be in effect if Paragraph (4) of Subsection B of this section were applied by substituting "eight percent" for "six and one-half percent".
G. A benefit paid to an individual pursuant to this section shall be charged pursuant to Subsection A of Section 51-1-11 NMSA 1978.
H. As used in this section:
(1) "rate of insured unemployment" means the percentage derived by dividing:
(a) the average weekly number of individuals filing claims for regular benefits in this state for weeks of unemployment with respect to the most recent thirteen-consecutive-week period, as determined by the secretary on the basis of the secretary's reports to the United States secretary of labor; by
(b) the average monthly employment covered under the Unemployment Compensation Law for the first four of the most recent six completed calendar quarters ending before the end of such thirteen-week period;
(2) "regular benefits" means benefits payable to an individual under the Unemployment Compensation Law or under any other state law, including benefits payable to federal civilian employees and to ex-servicemen pursuant to 5 U.S.C., Chapter 85, other than extended benefits;
(3) "extended benefits" means benefits, including benefits payable to federal civilian employees and to ex-servicemen pursuant to 5 U.S.C., Chapter 85, payable to an individual under the provisions of this section for weeks of unemployment in the individual's eligibility period;
(4) "eligibility period" of an individual means the period consisting of the weeks in the individual's benefit year that begin in an extended benefit period and, if the individual's benefit year ends within such extended benefit period, any weeks thereafter that begin in such period;
(5) "exhaustee" means an individual who, with respect to any week of unemployment in the individual's eligibility period:
(a) has received, prior to such week, all of the regular benefits that were available to the individual under the Unemployment Compensation Law or any other state law, including dependent's allowance and benefits payable to federal civilian employees and ex-servicemen under 5 U.S.C., Chapter 85, in the individual's current benefit year that includes such week; provided that, for the purposes of this subparagraph, an individual shall be deemed to have received all of the regular benefits that were available to the individual, although, as a result of a pending appeal with respect to wages that were not considered in the original monetary determination in the individual's benefit year, the individual may subsequently be determined to be entitled to added regular benefits; or
(b) if the individual's benefit year has expired prior to such week, has no, or insufficient, wages on the basis of which the individual could establish a new benefit year that would include such week; and
(c) has no right to unemployment benefits or allowances, as the case may be, under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the Trade Act of 1974, the Automotive Products Trade Act of 1965 and such other federal laws as are specified in regulations issued by the United States secretary of labor; and has not received and is not seeking unemployment benefits under the unemployment compensation law of Canada, but if the individual is seeking such benefits and the appropriate agency finally determines that the individual is not entitled to benefits under such law, the individual is considered an exhaustee; and
(6) "state law" means the unemployment insurance law of any state, approved by the United States secretary of labor under Section 3304 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986."
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