Bill > HB283

This bill amends existing law regarding unemployment compensation contribution rates, primarily focusing on how employer contribution rates are calculated and how an employer's "experience history" (their history of paying contributions and the benefits charged against them) is handled, especially during business transfers. Key provisions include detailing when benefits paid to an individual are not charged to a base-period employer (an employer from the individual's past employment period), such as when an employee leaves voluntarily without good cause, is discharged for misconduct, or receives benefits while attending approved training. The bill also clarifies rules for transferring an employer's experience history when a business is sold or reorganized, outlining conditions like timely notification and payment of outstanding contributions, and introduces penalties for attempting to manipulate these rules to gain a lower contribution rate. It further establishes a formula for calculating an employer's contribution rate based on their benefit ratio, a "reserve factor" to ensure the unemployment compensation fund maintains an adequate reserve (enough to cover 18-24 months of benefits), and an "experience history factor" that adjusts rates based on the employer's own financial history with unemployment claims. The bill also introduces an "excess claims premium" for employers whose rates exceed a certain threshold and sets limits on how much an employer's rate can increase annually, while also defining various terms like "annual payroll" and "computation date" for clarity.