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H. B. 2261

 

         (By Delegate Caputo)

         [Introduced January 12, 2011; referred to the

         Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]

 

 

 

 

A BILL to amend and reenact §21A-1A-27 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §21A-6-10 and §21A-6-11 of said code, all relating to changing the amount a person can earn while receiving unemployment compensation benefits, without it changing the benefits received, from $60 a week to forty percent of the person’s weekly benefit rate.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §21A-1A-27 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that §21A-6-10 and §21A-6-11 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1A. DEFINITIONS.

§21A-1A-27. Total and partial unemployment.

    "Total and partial unemployment" means:

    (1) An individual is totally unemployed in any week in which such the individual is separated from employment for an employing unit and during which he or she performs no services and with respect to which no wages are payable to him or her.

    (2) An individual who has not been separated from employment is partially unemployed in any week in which due to lack of full-time work wages payable to him or her are less than his or her weekly benefit amount plus sixty dollars forty percent of the individual’s weekly benefit rate: Provided, That said the individual must have earnings of at least sixty-one dollars forty percent of the individual’s weekly benefit rate.

ARTICLE 6. EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY; BENEFITS.

§21A-6-10. Benefit rate -- Total unemployment; annual computation and publication of rates.

    (a) Each eligible individual who is totally unemployed in any week shall be paid benefits with respect to that week at the weekly rate appearing in column (C) in the benefit table in this section, on the line on which in c Comment olumn (A) there is indicated the employee’s wage class, except as otherwise provided under the term “total and partial unemployment” in section twenty-seven, article one-a of this chapter. The employee’s wage class shall be is determined by his or her base period wages as shown in Column (B) in the benefit table. The right of an employee to receive benefits shall not be is not prejudiced nor may the amount thereof of the benefits be diminished by reason of failure by an employer to pay either the wages earned by the employee or the contribution due on such wages. An individual who is totally unemployed but earns in excess of $60 forty percent of the individual’s weekly benefit rate as a result of odd job or subsidiary work, or is paid a bonus in any benefit week shall be paid benefits for such week in accordance with the provisions of this chapter pertaining to benefits for partial unemployment.

    (b) (1) The maximum benefit for each wage class shall be equal to twenty-six times the weekly benefit rate.

    (2) The maximum benefit rate shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the average weekly wage in West Virginia.

    (c) On July 1 of each year, the commissioner shall determine the maximum weekly benefit rate upon the basis of the formula set forth above and shall establish wage classes as are required, increasing or decreasing the amount of the base period wages required for each wage class by $150, establishing the weekly benefit rate for each wage class by rounded dollar amount to be fifty-five percent of one fifty-second of the median dollar amount of wages in the base period for such wage class and establishing the maximum benefit for each wage class as an amount equal to twenty-six times the weekly benefit rate: Provided, That the commissioner shall not increase or decrease the maximum weekly benefit rate for the period beginning on the effective date of the amendment and reenactment of this section in the regular session of the Legislature in 2009 until the threshold wage is reduced to $9,000, as required by subsection (d), section twenty-eight, article one-a of this chapter. The maximum weekly benefit rate, when computed by the commissioner, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $1.

    (d) After he or she has established such wage classes, the commissioner shall prepare and publish a table setting forth such information.

    (e) Average weekly wage shall be computed by dividing the number of employees in West Virginia earning wages in covered employment into the total wages paid to employees in West Virginia in covered employment, and by further dividing said result by fifty-two, and shall be determined from employer wage and contribution reports for the previous calendar year which are furnished to the department on or before June 1 following such calendar year. The average weekly wage, as determined by the commissioner, shall be rounded to the next higher dollar.

    (f) The computation and determination of rates as aforesaid shall be completed annually before July 1 and any such new wage class, with its corresponding wages in base period, weekly benefit rate and maximum benefit in a benefit year established by the commissioner in the foregoing manner effective on July 1 shall apply only to a new claim established by a claimant on and after July 1, and does not apply to continued claims of a claimant based on his or her new claim established before said July 1.

BENEFIT TABLE

A

WAGE

 

B

WAGES IN

C

WEEKLY


MAXIMUM

CLASS

 

BASE PERIOD

BENEFIT RATE

BENEFIT RATE

 

 

Under $ 2,200.00

Ineligible

 

1

$

2,200.00

-

 2,359.99

24.00

624.00

2

 

2,350.00

-

2,499.99

25.00

650.00

3

 

2,500.00

-

2,649.99

27.00

702.00

4

 

2,650.00

-

2,799.99

28.00

728.00

5

 

2,800.00

-

2,949.99

30.00

780.00

6

 

2,950.00

-

3,099.99

31.00

806.00

7

 

3,100.00

-

3,249.99

33.00

858.00

8

 

3,250.00

-

3,399.99

35.00

910.00

9

 

3,400.00

-

 3,549.99

36.00

936.00

10

 

3,550.00

-

 3,699.99

38.00

988.00

11

 

3,700.00

-

3,849.99

39.00

1,014.00

12

 

3,850.00

-

3,999.99

41.00

1,066.00

13

 

4,000.00

-

4,149.99

43.00

1,118.00

14

 

4,150.00

-

4,299.99

44.00

1,144.00

15

 

4,300.00

-

4,449.99

46.00

1,196.00

16

 

4,450.00

-

4,599.99

47.00

1,222.00

17

 

4,600.00

-

4,749.99

49.00

1,274.00

18

 

4,750.00

-

4,899.99

51.00

1,326.00

19

 

4,900.00

-

5,049.99

52.00

1,352.00

20

 

5,050.00

-

5,199.99

54.00

1,404.00

21

 

5,200.00

-

 5,349.99

55.00

1,430.00

22

 

5,350.00

-

5,499.99

57.00

1,482.00

23

 

5,500.00

-

5,649.99

58.00

1,508.00

24

 

5,650.00

-

5,799.99

60.00

1,560.00

25

 

5,800.00

-

5,949.99

62.00

1,612.00

26

 

5,950.00

-

6,099.99

63.00

1,638.00

27

 

6,100.00

-

6,249.99

65.00

1,690.00

28

 

6,250.00

-

6,399.99

66.00

1,716.00

29

 

6,400.00

-

6,549.99

68.00

1,768.00

30

 

6,550.00

-

6,699.99

70.00

1,820.00

31

 

6,700.00

-

6,849.99

71.00

1,846.00

32

 

6,850.00

-

6,999.99

73.00

1,898.00

33

 

7,000.00

-

7,149.99

74.00

1,924.00

34

 

7,150.00

-

7,299.99

76.00

1,976.00

35

 

7,300.00

-

7,449.99

78.00

2,028.00

36

 

7,450.00

-

7,599.99

79.00

2,054.00

37

 

7,600.00

-

7,749.99

81.00

2,106.00

38

 

7,750.00

-

7,899.99

82.00

2,132.00

39

 

7,900.00

-

 8,049.99

84.00

2,184.00

40

 

8,050.00

-

8,199.99

85.00

2,210.00

41

 

8,200.00

-

8,349.99

87.00

2,262.00

42

 

8,350.00

-

8,499.99

89.00

2,314.00

43

 

8,500.00

-

8,649.99

90.00

2,340.00

44

 

8,650.00

-

8,799.99

92.00

2,392.00

45

 

8,800.00

-

8,949.99

93.00

2,418.00

46

 

8,950.00

-

9,099.99

95.00

2,470.00

47

 

9,100.00

-

9,249.99

97.00

2,522.00

48

 

9,250.00

-

9,399.99

98.00

2,548.00

49

 

9,400.00

-

9,549.99

100.00

2,600.00

50

 

9,550.00

-

9,699.99

101.00

2,626.00

51

 

9,700.00

-

9,849.99

103.00

2,678.00

52

 

9,850.00

-

9,999.99

104.00

2,704.00

53

 

10,000.00

-

10,149.99

106.00

2,756.00

54

 

10,150.00

-

10,299.99

108.00

2,808.00

55

 

10,300.00

-

10,449.99

109.00

2,834.00

56

 

10,450.00

-

10,599.99

111.00

2,886.00

57

 

10,600.00

-

10,749.99

112.00

2,912.00

58

 

10,750.00

-

10,899.99

114.00

2,964.00

59

 

10,900.00

-

11,049.99

116.00

3,016.00

60

 

11,050.00

-

11,199.99

117.00

3,042.00

61

 

11,200.00

-

11,349.99

119.00

3,094.00

62

 

11,350.00

-

 11,499.99

120.00

3,120.00

63

 

11,500.00

-

11,649.99

122.00

3,172.00

64

 

11,650.00

-

11,799.99

124.00

3,224.00

65

 

11,800.00

-

11,949.99

125.00

3,250.00

66

 

11,950.00

-

12,099.99

127.00

3,302.00

67

 

12,100.00

-

12,249.99

128.00

3,328.00

68

 

12,250.00

-

12,399.99

130.00

3,380.00

69

 

12,400.00

-

12,549.99

131.00

3,406.00

70

 

12,550.00

-

12,699.99

133.00

3,458.00

71

 

12,700.00

-

12,849.99

135.00

3,510.00

72

 

12,850.00

-

12,999.99

136.00

3,536.00

73

 

13,000.00

-

13,149.99

138.00

3,588.00

74

 

13,150.00

-

13,299.99

139.00

3,614.00

75

 

13,300.00

-

13,449.99

141.00

3,666.00

76

 

13,450.00

-

13,599.99

143.00

3,718.00

77

 

13,600.00

-

13,749.99

144.00

3,744.00

78

 

13,750.00

-

13,899.99

146.00

3,796.00

79

 

13,900.00

-

14,049.99

147.00

3,822.00

80

 

14,050.00

-

14,199.99

149.00

3,874.00

81

 

14,200.00

-

14,349.99

150.00

3,900.00

82

 

14,350.00

-

14,499.99

152.00

3,952.00

83

 

14,500.00

-

14,649.99

154.00

4,004.00

84

 

14,650.00

-

14,799.99

155.00

4,030.00

85

 

14,800.00

-

14,949.99

157.00

4,082.00

86

 

14,950.00

-

15,099.99

158.00

4,108.00

87

 

15,100.00

-

15,249.99

160.00

4,160.00

88

 

15,250.00

-

15,399.99

162.00

4,212.00

89

 

15,400.00

-

15,549.99

163.00

4,238.00

90

 

15,550.00

-

15,699.99

165.00

4,290.00

91

 

15,700.00

-

15,849.99

166.00

4,316.00

92

 

15,850.00

-

15,999.99

168.00

4,368.00

93

 

16,000.00

-

16,149.99

170.00

4,420.00

94

 

16,150.00

-

16,299.99

171.00

4,446.00

95

 

16,300.00

-

16,449.99

173.00

4,498.00

96

 

16,450.00

-

16,599.99

174.00

4,524.00

97

 

16,600.00

-

16,749.99

176.00

4,576.00

98

 

16,750.00

-

16,899.99

177.00

4,602.00

99

 

16,900.00

-

17,049.99

179.00

4,654.00

100

 

17,050.00

-

17,199.99

181.00

4,706.00

101

 

17,200.00

-

17,349.99

182.00

4,732.00

102

 

17,350.00

-

17,499.99

184.00

4,784.00

103

 

17,500.00

-

 17,649.99

185.00

4,810.00

104

 

17,650.00

-

17,799.99

187.00

4,862.00

105

 

17,800.00

-

17,949.99

189.00

4,914.00

106

 

17,950.00

-

18,099.99

190.00

4,940.00

107

 

18,100.00

-

18,249.99

192.00

4,992.00

108

 

18,250.00

-

18,399.99

193.00

5,018.00

109

 

18,400.00

-

18,549.99

195.00

5,070.00

110

 

18,550.00

-

18,699.99

196.00

5,096.00

111

 

18,700.00

-

18,849.99

198.00

5,148.00

112

 

18,850.00

-

18,999.99

200.00

5,200.00

113

 

19,000.00

-

19,149.99

201.00

5,226.00

114

 

19,150.00

-

19,299.99

203.00

5,278.00

115

 

19,300.00

-

19,449.99

204.00

5,304.00

116

 

19,450.00

-

19,599.99

206.00

5,356.00

117

 

19,600.00

-

19,749.99

208.00

5,408.00

118

 

19,750.00

-

19,899.99

209.00

5,434.00

119

 

19,900.00

-

20,049.99

211.00

5,486.00

120

 

20,050.00

-

20,199.99

212.00

5,512.00

121

 

20,200.00

-

20,349.99

214.00

5,564.00

122

 

20,350.00

-

20,499.99

216.00

5,616.00

123

 

20,500.00

-

20,649.99

217.00

5,642.00

124

 

20,650.00

-

20,799.99

219.00

5,694.00

125

 

20,800.00

-

20,949.99

220.00

5,720.00

126

 

20,950.00

-

21,099.99

222.00

5,772.00

127

 

21,100.00

-

21,249.99

223.00

5,798.00

128

 

21,250.00

-

21,399.99

225.00

5,850.00

129

 

21,400.00

-

21,549.99

227.00

5,902.00

130

 

21,550.00

-

21,699.99

228.00

5,928.00

131

 

21,700.00

-

21,849.99

230.00

5,980.00

132

 

21,850.00

-

21,999.99

231.00

6,006.00

133

 

22,000.00

-

22,149.99

233.00

6,058.00

134

 

22,150.00

-

22,299.99

235.00

6,110.00

135

 

22,300.00

-

22,449.99

236.00

6,136.00

136

 

22,450.00

-

22,599.99

238.00

6,188.00

137

 

22,600.00

-

22,749.99

239.00

6,214.00

138

 

22,750.00

-

22,899.99

241.00

6,266.00

139

 

22,900.00

-

23,049.99

243.00

6,318.00

140

 

23,050.00

-

23,199.99

244.00

6,344.00

141

 

23,200.00

-

23,349.99

246.00

6,396.00

142

 

23,350.00

-

23,499.99

247.00

6,422.00

143

 

23,500.00

-

23,649.99

249.00

6,474.00

144

 

23,650.00

-

 23,799.99

250.00

6,500.00

145

 

23,800.00

-

23,949.99

252.00

6,552.00

146

 

23,950.00

-

24,099.99

254.00

6,604.00

147

 

24,100.00

-

24,249.99

255.00

6,630.00

148

 

24,250.00

-

24,399.99

257.00

6,682.00

149

 

24,400.00

-

24,549.99

258.00

6,708.00

150

 

24,550.00

-

24,699.99

260.00

6,760.00

151

 

24,700.00

-

24,849.99

262.00

6,812.00

152

 

24,850.00

-

24,999.99

263.00

6,838.00

153

 

25,000.00

-

25,149.99

265.00

6,890.00

154

 

25,150.00

-

25,299.99

266.00

6,916.00

155

 

25,300.00

-

25,449.99

268.00

6,968.00

156

 

25,450.00

-

25,599.99

269.00

6,994.00

157

 

25,600.00

-

25,749.99

271.00

7,046.00

158

 

25,750.00

-

25,899.99

273.00

7,098.00

159

 

25,900.00

-

26,049.99

274.00

7,124.00

160

 

26,050.00

-

26,199.99

276.00

7,176.00

161

 

26,200.00

-

26,349.99

277.00

7,202.00

162

 

26,350.00

-

26,499.99

279.00

7,254.00

163

 

26,500.00

-

26,649.99

281.00

7,306.00

164

 

26,650.00

-

26,799.99

282.00

7,332.00

165

 

26,800.00

-

26,949.99

284.00

7,384.00

166

 

26,950.00

-

27,099.99

285.00

7,410.00

167

 

27,100.00

-

27,249.99

287.00

7,462.00

168

 

27,250.00

-

27,399.99

289.00

7,514.00

169

 

27,400.00

-

27,549.99

290.00

7,540.00

170

 

27,550.00

-

27,699.99

292.00

7,592.00

171

 

27,700.00

-

27,849.99

293.00

7,618.00

172

 

27,850.00

-

27,999.99

295.00

7,670.00

173

 

28,000.00

-

28,149.99

296.00

7,696.00

174

 

28,150.00

-

28,299.99

298.00

7,748.00

175

 

28,300.00

-

28,449.99

300.00

7,800.00

176

 

28,450.00

-

28,599.99

301.00

7,826.00

177

 

28,600.00

-

28,749.99

303.00

7,878.00

178

 

28,750.00

-

28,899.99

304.00

7,904.00

179

 

28,900.00

-

29,049.99

306.00

7,956.00

180

 

29,050.00

-

29,199.99

308.00

8,008.00

181

 

29,200.00

-

29,349.99

309.00

8,034.00

182

 

29,350.00

-

29,499.99

311.00

8,086.00

183

 

29,500.00

-

29,649.99

312.00

8,112.00

184

 

29,650.00

-

29,799.99

314.00

8,164.00

185

 

29,800.00

-

 29,949.99

315.00

8,190.00

186

 

29,950.00

-

30,099.99

317.00

8,242.00

187

 

30,100.00

-

30,249.99

319.00

8,294.00

188

 

30,250.00

-

30,399.99

320.00

8,320.00

189

 

30,400.00

-

30,549.99

322.00

8,372.00

190

 

30,550.00

-

30,699.99

323.00

8,398.00

191

 

30,700.00

-

30,849.99

325.00

8,450.00

192

 

30,850.00

-

30,999.99

327.00

8,502.00

193

 

31,000.00

-

31,149.99

328.00

8,528.00

194

 

31,150.00

-

31,299.99

330.00

8,580.00

195

 

31,300.00

-

31,449.99

331.00

8,606.00

196

 

31,450.00

-

31,599.99

333.00

8,658.00

197

 

31,600.00

-

31,749.99

335.00

8,710.00

198

 

31,750.00

-

31,899.99

336.00

8,736.00

199

 

31,900.00

-

32,049.99

338.00

8,788.00

200

 

32,050.00

-

32,199.99

339.00

8,814.00

201

 

32,200.00

-

32,349.99

341.00

8,866.00

202

 

32,350.00

-

32,499.99

342.00

8,892.00

203

 

32,500.00

-

32,649.99

344.00

8,944.00

204

 

32,650.00

-

32,799.99

346.00

8,996.00

205

 

32,800.00

-

32,949.99

347.00

9,022.00

206

 

32,950.00

-

33,099.99

349.00

9,074.00

207

 

33,100.00

-

33,249.99

350.00

9,100.00

208

 

33,250.00

-

33,399.99

352.00

9,152.00

209

 

33,400.00

-

33,549.99

354.00

9,204.00

210

 

33,550.00

-

33,699.99

355.00

9,230.00

211

 

33,700.00

-

33,849.99

357.00

9,282.00

212

 

33,850.00

-

33,999.99

358.00

9,308.00

213

 

34,000.00

-

34,149.99

360.00

9,360.00

214

 

34,150.00

-

34,299.99

361.00

9,386.00

215

 

34,300.00

-

34,449.99

363.00

9,438.00

216

 

34,450.00

-

34,599.99

365.00

9,490.00

217

 

34,600.00

-

34,749.99

366.00

9,516.00

218

 

34,750.00

-

34,899.99

368.00

9,568.00

219

 

34,900.00

-

35,049.99

369.00

9,594.00

220

 

35,050.00

-

35,199.99

371.00

9,646.00

221

 

35,200.00

-

35,349.99

373.00

9,698.00

222

 

35,350.00

-

35,499.99

374.00

9,724.00

223

 

35,500.00

-

35,649.99

376.00

9,776.00

224

 

35,650.00

-

35,799.99

377.00

9,802.00

225

 

35,800.00

-

35,949.99

379.00

9,854.00

226

 

35,950.00

-

 36,999.99

381.00

9,906.00

227

 

36,100.00

-

36,249.99

382.00

9,932.00

228

 

36,250.00

-

36,399.99

384.00

9,984.00

229

 

36,400.00

-

36,549.99

385.00

10,010.00

230

 

36,550.00

-

36,699.99

387.00

10,062.00

231

 

36,700.00

-

36,849.99

388.00

10,088.00

232

 

36,850.00

-

36,999.99

390.00

10,140.00

233

 

37,000.00

-

37,149.99

392.00

10,192.00

234

 

37,150.00

-

37,299.99

393.00

10,218.00

235

 

37,300.00

-

37,449.99

395.00

10,270.00

236

 

37,450.00

-

37,599.99

396.00

10,296.00

237

 

37,600.00

-

37,749.99

398.00

10,348.00

238

 

37,750.00

-

37,899.99

400.00

10,400.00

239

 

37,900.00

-

38,049.99

401.00

10,426.00

240

 

38,050.00

-

38,199.99

403.00

10,478.00

241

 

38,200.00

-

38,349.99

404.00

10,504.00

242

 

38,350.00

-

38,499.99

406.00

10,556.00

243

 

38,500.00

-

38,649.99

408.00

10,608.00

244

 

38,650.00

-

38,799.99

409.00

10,634.00

245

 

38,800.00

-

38,949.99

411.00

10,686.00

246

 

38,950.00

-

39,099.99

412.00

10,712.00

247

 

39,100.00

-

39,249.99

414.00

10,764.00

248

 

39,250.00

-

39,399.99

415.00

10,790.00

249

 

39,400.00

-

39,549.99

417.00

10,842.00

250

 

39,550.00

-

39,699.99

419.00

10,894.00

251

 

39,700.00

-

39,849.99

420.00

10,920.00

252

 

39,850.00

-

39,999.99

422.00

10,972.00

253

 

40,000.00

-

40,149.99

423.00

10,998.00

254

 

40,150.00

-

and above

424.00

11,024.00

§21A-6-11. Benefit rate -- Partial unemployment.

    An eligible individual who is partially unemployed in any week shall, upon claim therefor filed within such the time and in such the manner as the commissioner may by regulation rule prescribe, be paid benefits for such the partial unemployment in an amount equal to his the individual’s weekly benefit rate, as determined in accordance with section ten of this article, less that part of wages from any source payable or bonus paid to him or her with respect to such the week which is in excess of sixty dollars forty percent of the individual’s weekly benefit rate. Provided, That such The amount of benefits if not a multiple of one dollar shall be computed to the next lowest multiple of one dollar. Such The partial benefits shall be paid to such the individual for the week for which he or she is claiming benefits without regard to the provisions of subdivision (1), section one of this article.

 

 

 

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to change the amount a person can earn while receiving unemployment compensation benefits, without it changing the benefits received, from $60 a week to forty percent of the person’s weekly benefit rate.

 

    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.