DENIAL OF UNEMPLOYMENT; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE                                           S.B. 604:

                                                                                 SUMMARY OF DISCHARGED BILL

Senate Bill 604 (as discharged)

Sponsor:  Senator Curtis Hertel, Jr.

Committee:  Government Operations (discharged)

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Employment Security Act to do the following:

-- Specify that an individual's leaving his or her job would not disqualify the individual from receiving unemployment benefits if he or she were a victim of domestic violence who met the bill's requirements.

-- Prohibit benefits paid after a leaving described above from being charged to that individual's employer's experience account and, instead, require the benefits to be charged to the nonchargeable benefits account.

-- Specify that an otherwise eligible individual would not be disqualified from receiving benefits if he or she demonstrated to the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) that he or she left work because of domestic violence.

-- Allow an individual to demonstrate to the UIA the existence of domestic violence by providing one or more documents, such as a restraining order, a police record of the domestic violence, or medical documentation of domestic violence.

-- Prohibit the UIA from disclosing evidence of domestic violence experienced by an individual, including the individual's statement or corroborating evidence.

MCL 421.17 et al.                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a negative fiscal impact on the Michigan Unemployment Compensation Fund and a minor fiscal impact on the UIA. The inclusion of eligible individuals who demonstrated domestic violence would result in increased payments from the Michigan Unemployment Compensation Fund. The Unemployment Insurance Agency would experience costs to include the newly eligible individuals; however, because of the current amount of activity at the UIA, the additional costs likely would be absorbed into current operations and appropriations.

Date Completed:  12-10-20                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  Cory Savino

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.