AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 RELATING TO NON-CHARGING OF COVID-19 RELATED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS.

This Act would ensure that employers are not charged for the benefit wages of employees who they had to terminate, furlough, or lay off due to the economic shutdown needed to respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis. The intention of the Department of Labor is to use other sources of federal funds to repay the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for the COVID-19 related benefits paid to these claimants, instead of charging the employers. It is not the intention to increase taxes on employers, and for most employers, this Act will avoid a significant increase in their unemployment tax assessment rates from COVID-19 related charges.