UNEMPLOYMENT & EMERGENCIES & DISASTERS

HB 249 amends New Mexico's unemployment law to allow the Secretary of Workforce Solutions to waive the standard one-week waiting period for benefits during declared federal or state emergencies or disasters. This change would directly help unemployed workers who lose jobs due to events like wildfires, floods, or other declared emergencies by enabling faster access to benefits. The bill modifies Section 51-1-5(4) of the unemployment code to give the Secretary authority to eliminate the waiting week requirement when emergencies are officially recognized. It does not alter other eligibility rules but streamlines benefit access during crisis situations.