Bill > S700

This bill reforms North Carolina's unemployment insurance laws in several key ways: It increases the maximum weekly benefit amount from $350 to $445, adjusting annually for inflation, and bases the calculation on the claimant's highest paid quarter rather than the last two quarters. It also extends the maximum duration of benefits from 12-20 weeks (based on the statewide unemployment rate) to a flat 26 weeks. The bill expands eligibility for benefits, allowing claims in cases of spousal relocation, undue family hardship, health reasons, and domestic violence. It also authorizes the forgiveness of non-fraudulent overpayments caused by agency error. Finally, the bill establishes a new Short-Time Compensation program, which allows employers to reduce work hours rather than lay off employees, with the state providing partial unemployment benefits to affected workers to help them maintain their income. The provisions take effect on different dates, with the benefit changes applying to claims filed on or after the effective date, the overpayment changes applying to pending cases, and the Short-Time Compensation program taking effect 60 days after the bill becomes law.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/S700