HB 78 — AN ACT relating to unemployment insurance.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the circumstances under which a worker is not disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits due to domestic violence and abuse.

• KRS 341.370

  (6) (a) No worker shall be disqualified or held ineligible under the provisions of this section or KRS 341.350, who leaves work, is unable to work, or is separated from employment due to circumstances directly resulting from domestic violence and abuse as defined in KRS 403.720, or from dating violence and abuse, sexual assault, or stalking as defined in KRS 456.010, and with respect to which: 1. The worker fears domestic violence and abuse, dating violence and abuse, sexual assault, or stalking at or en route to or from the worker's place of employment; 2. The worker wishes to relocate to another geographic area in order to avoid future domestic violence and abuse, dating violence and abuse, sexual assault, or stalking against the worker, the worker's family, or coworkers; 3. The worker believes that leaving work is necessary for the future safety and health of the worker, the worker's family, or coworkers.

  This addition allows workers to qualify for benefits if they leave work due to domestic violence or abuse.

• KRS 341.530

  (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, benefits paid to an eligible worker and chargeable to a contributing employer's reserve account under such subsection shall be charged against the pooled account if such worker was discharged by such employer for misconduct connected with his or her most recent work for such employer, voluntarily left his or her most recent work with such employer without good cause attributable to the employment, voluntarily left the employer to protect himself or herself or his or her family or coworkers from domestic violence and abuse as defined in KRS 403.720 or dating violence and abuse, sexual assault, or stalking as defined in KRS 456.010, or the employer has continued to provide part-time employment and wages, without interruption, to the same extent that was provided from the date of hire, and the employer within a reasonable time, as prescribed by regulation of the secretary, notifies the office, in writing, of the alleged voluntary quitting, discharge for misconduct or continuing part-time employment; provided, however, that no employer making payments to the fund in lieu of contributions shall be relieved of charges by reason of this subsection.

  This change ensures that employers are still charged to the pooled account if a worker leaves to avoid domestic violence, thereby protecting such workers' benefits.

Action History

1. January 05, 2021

   to Committee on Committees (H)

2. January 05, 2021

   introduced in House

3. October 28, 2020

   Prefiled by the sponsor(s).

Sponsors

• Nima Kulkarni · Primary
• Samara Heavrin · Primary
• Tina Bojanowski · Primary
• M. Cantrell · Primary
• J. Donohue · Primary
• K. Flood · Primary
• D. Graham · Primary
• J. Jenkins · Primary
• Mary Lou Marzian · Primary
• R. Meeks · Primary
• J. Raymond · Primary
• Pamela Stevenson · Primary
• Lisa Willner · Primary
• Pamela Stevenson · Primary
• T.J. Roberts · Primary

Subjects