HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended April 16, 2015 HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading April 15, 2015First Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 15-0760.01 Kristen Forrestal x4217HOUSE BILL 15-1231 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Esgar and Kraft-Tharp, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Merrifield, House Committees Senate Committees Business Affairs and Labor Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning enhanced unemployment compensation benefits, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill reenacts the implementation of enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits for eligible unemployment insurance claimants that expired in accordance with a self-repealer clause in 2014. Enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits are available to claimants who are enrolled and making satisfactory progress in an approved training program that will train them for a high-demand occupation, a more stable occupation, or a long-term occupation. An approved training program includes vocational training, a registered apprenticeship, or an entrepreneurial training program. The availability of the enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits will expire in accordance with a self-repealer clause on July 1, 2018. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, recreate and reenact, with amendments, 8-73-114 as follows: 8-73-114. Enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits - eligibility - approved training programs - amount of benefits - outreach - repeal. (1) Enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits are available for an eligible unemployment insurance claimant who is engaged in and making satisfactory progress, as certified by the training program provider, in an approved training program. (2) An approved training program must prepare the eligible unemployment insurance claimant for entry into an occupation. The director shall identify occupations based upon the recommendations of local workforce investment boards, working with the section of the department responsible for labor market information. (3) (a) Enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits are payable to an eligible unemployment insurance claimant who satisfies the requirements of subsection (1) of this section as follows: (I) The total enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefit amount cannot exceed twenty weeks of benefits on the regular claim or forty percent of the maximum benefit amount on the regular claim, whichever is less. (II) The enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefit must be paid weekly, in addition to the regular weekly benefit amount, payable in increments equal to fifty percent of the regular weekly benefit amount, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar. (b) The division shall not pay enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits pursuant to this section after June 30, 2018. (4) (a) The director of the division shall adopt rules in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., that the director deems necessary for the proper administration, implementation, and enforcement of federal law and this section. (b) The division shall develop outreach efforts to unemployed workers, particularly traditionally underserved populations, to inform them of the availability of enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits under this section. (5) The division may pay enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits pursuant to this section but shall not obligate expenditures beyond the limits specified in this section or as otherwise established by the general assembly. For the 2015-16 through 2017-18 fiscal years, the director may obligate a total of twelve million dollars, but not more than four million dollars in any given fiscal year, to be expended over those three fiscal years. (6) By December 31, 2016, and by each December 31 thereafter until December 31, 2017, the division shall submit a report to the joint budget committee, the business affairs and labor committee of the house of representatives, and the business, labor, and technology committee of the senate, or their successor committees, regarding the status of the enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits program and the resulting outcomes. The report must include at least the following: (a) A demographic analysis of participants in the enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits program under this section, including the gender, race, age, disability, and geographic representation of participants; (b) The duration of the enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimed per eligible unemployment insurance claimant; (c) The employment and wage history of participants, including the pretraining and post-training wage and whether those participating in training return to their previous employer or occupation after training; (d) A return-on-investment calculation to determine the benefits and fiscal contribution of unemployment insurance claimants participating in the program who become employed. Employers participating in the program shall provide the department with information on permanent hires of program participants, as well as feedback on program value and issues, for use by the department in calculating the return on investment. (7) The division shall pay the enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits awarded pursuant to this section from moneys appropriated by the general assembly to the division from the general fund. (8) As used in this section: (a) (I) "Approved training program" means a vocational training, registered apprenticeship, or entrepreneurial training program approved by the director that: (A) Is designed to train a participant for an occupation, based on labor market information; and (B) Is likely to enhance the unemployment insurance claimant's marketable skills and earning power. (II) "Approved training program" does not include any course of education primarily intended to meet the requirements of an associate, baccalaureate, or higher degree unless the training meets specific requirements for certification, licensing, or specific skills necessary for the occupation. (b) "Director" means the director of the division or his or her designee. (c) "Eligible unemployment insurance claimant" means an unemployment insurance claimant on a regular or extended benefits state unemployment claim or a military or federal claim who is receiving benefits and is eligible for enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits pursuant to this section. (d) "Enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits" means additional benefits paid to an eligible unemployment insurance claimant in accordance with this section. (e) "Training program provider" means a postsecondary educational institution, including an institution of higher education, a community or technical college, an occupational education program, an employer, or any other entity that provides an apprenticeship or entrepreneurial training program approved by the division or authorized under the federal "Workforce Investment Act of 1998", 29 U.S.C. sec. 2801 et seq., as amended. (9) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2018. SECTION 2. Appropriation. For the 2015-16 state fiscal year, $3,234,294 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment for use by the division of unemployment insurance. This appropriation is from the general fund and is based on an assumption that the division will require an additional 1.2 FTE. To implement this act, the division may use this appropriation for the enhanced unemployment insurance compensation benefits program. SECTION 3. Effective date. This act takes effect July 1, 2015. SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.