Bill > SB916

This bill modifies Oregon's unemployment insurance law to clarify and expand provisions related to unemployment benefits during labor disputes. The bill defines key terms like "labor dispute", "strike", and "lockout", and changes how unemployment benefits are handled during these situations. For strikes, employees can now receive unemployment benefits after the first week of a labor dispute, with the number of weeks depending on the state's unemployment fund status (8-10 weeks). For lockouts, employees can receive benefits without disqualification. The bill also adds provisions that if an employee receives back pay to resolve a strike, their previously received unemployment benefits may need to be repaid. Additionally, for school district and education service district employees, benefits charged during a labor dispute will count toward the employee's total compensation, and the district can deduct these benefits from the employee's future wages. The bill aims to provide more clarity and flexibility in how unemployment benefits are administered during labor disputes while also establishing mechanisms to prevent potential abuse of the system.