CHAPTER 308
HB 1474-FN – FINAL VERSION
05/03/06 2015s
24May2006… 2345cofc
24May2006… 2404eba
2006 SESSION
08/09
HOUSE BILL 1474-FN
AN ACT relative to unemployment compensation contribution rates and benefits and establishing a commission to investigate the feasibility of merging the department of employment security into the department of labor.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bridle, Rock 15; Rep. Infantine, Hills 13; Rep. Bishop, Rock 2; Rep. Mirski, Graf 10; Sen. Kenney, Dist 3; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15
COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
This bill increases the amount of unemployment compensation available to claimants and adjusts the taxable wage base.
This bill changes the employer’s contribution to the unemployment compensation fund.
This bill establishes a commission to investigate the feasibility of merging the department of employment security into the department of labor.
This bill prohibits the commissioner of the department of employment security from closing district offices without the permission of the fiscal committee.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/03/06 2015s
24May2006… 2345cofc
24May2006… 2404eba
06-3000
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six
AN ACT relative to unemployment compensation contribution rates and benefits and establishing a commission to investigate the feasibility of merging the department of employment security into the department of labor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
308:1 Weekly Benefit Amount for Total Unemployment and Maximum Total Amount of Benefits Payable During any Benefit Year. Amend RSA 282-A:25, I to read as follows:
I. The maximum weekly benefit amount and maximum benefits payable to an eligible individual, the first day of whose individual benefit year is on or after the effective date of this paragraph, shall be determined by the individual’s annual earnings, of which in each of 2 calendar quarters the individual must have earned not less than $1,400, as follows:
Annual Earnings of Maximum Weekly Maximum
Not Less Than Benefit Amount Benefits
$2,800 $32 $832
3,100 35 910
3,400 39 1,014
3,900 45 1,170
4,200 48 1,248
4,500 52 1,352
4,800 55 1,430
5,100 59 1,534
5,600 64 1,664
6,100 69 1,794
6,600 75 1,950
7,000 80 2,080
7,400 83 2,158
7,800 88 2,288
8,200 92 2,392
8,600 96 2,496
9,000 101 2,626
9,500 105 2,730
10,000 110 2,860
Annual Earnings of Maximum Weekly Maximum
Not Less Than Benefit Amount Benefits
10,500 115 2,990
11,000 120 3,120
11,500 126 3,276
12,500 137 3,562
13,500 148 3,848
14,500 159 4,134
15,500 167 4,342
16,500 178 4,628
17,500 188 4,888
18,500 199 5,174
19,500 206 5,356
20,500 217 5,642
21,500 227 5,902
22,500 238 6,188
23,500 249 6,474
24,500 254 6,604
25,500 265 6,890
26,500 275 7,150
27,500 286 7,436
28,500 290 7,540
29,500 301 7,826
30,500 311 8,086
31,500 321 8,346
32,500 331 8,606
33,500 342 8,892
34,500 352 9,152
35,500 362 9,412
36,500 372 9,672
37,500 383 9,958
38,500 394 10,244
39,500 405 10,530
40,500 416 10,816
41,500 427 11,102
308:2 Minimum Rate. RSA 282-A:82 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
282-A:82 Minimum Rate.
I. The commissioner shall compute the amount to be subtracted from every employer’s contribution rate for the 4 calendar quarters during a calendar year by determining the available balance in the unemployment compensation fund on September 30 of the preceding calendar year. The amount to be subtracted from every employer’s contribution rate for the 4 calendar quarters during a calendar year shall be as follows:
(a) Whenever the unemployment compensation fund equals or exceeds $225,000,000 on September 30 of the preceding calendar year, the amount to be subtracted shall be .5 percent.
(b) Whenever the unemployment compensation fund equals or exceeds $250,000,000 on September 30 of the preceding calendar year, the amount to be subtracted shall be one percent.
(c) Whenever the unemployment compensation fund equals or exceeds $275,000,000 on September 30 of the preceding calendar year, the amount to be subtracted shall be 1.5 percent.
II. The minimum contribution rate under this section shall be not less than .01 percent.
308:3 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study the feasibility of merging the department of employment security into the department of labor.
308:4 Membership and Compensation.
I. The voting members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
II. The nonvoting members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) The labor commissioner, or designee.
(b) The commissioner of the department of employment security, or designee.
(c) A member of the workforce opportunity council, appointed by the council.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
308:5 Duties. The commission shall investigate and make recommendations regarding duplications in duties of the department of labor and the department of employment security.
308:6 Chairperson. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.
308:7 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 15, 2006.
308:8 New Paragraph; Duties of Commissioner. Amend RSA 282-A:112 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:
VI. The commissioner shall not close any district office nor reduce services or hours of operation without the prior permission of the fiscal committee.
308:9 Minimum Rate. Amend RSA 282-A:2, II to read as follows:
II. The minimum contribution rate under this section shall be not less than [.01] .10 percent.
308:10 Nullification; 2006, 130:10. The provisions of 2006, 130:10 shall not take effect.
308:11 Effective Date.
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
II. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
III. Section 9 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2007.
IV. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 19, 2006
Effective: I. Section 1 shall take effect July 1, 2007
II. Section 2 shall take effect July 1, 2006
III. Section 9 shall take effect January 1, 2007
IV. Remainder shall take effect June 19, 2006