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2024 SESSION

24103687D
HOUSE BILL NO. 82
Offered January 10, 2024
Prefiled December 27, 2023
A BILL to amend and reenact § 60.2-607 of the Code of Virginia, relating to unemployment compensation; maximum duration of benefits.
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Patrons-- Fowler, Green and Walker
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Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 60.2-607 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 60.2-607. Maximum duration of benefits.

A. The maximum total amount duration for which a claimant may receive of benefits payable to any individual during any benefit year shall depend on the "Benefit Table" shown in § 60.2-602 but shall not exceed twenty-six times such individual's weekly average, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Commonwealth, as determined by the Commission, for the three months preceding the month in which a claimant files his first claim in a benefit year amount, except when benefits are paid pursuant to the provisions of § 60.2-610 or § 60.2-611. Such determination shall be based only upon wages paid for insured work during such individual's base period. The Commission shall maintain a separate account for each individual who is paid wages for insured work. After the expiration of each calendar quarter the Commission shall credit each individual's account with the wages paid to him for insured work in such calendar quarter. The following table determines the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid to a claimant based on such average unemployment rate:

Average unemployment rate

Benefit weeks

< 5.0%

12

5.0% to < 5.5%

13

5.5% to < 6.0%

14

6.0% to < 6.5%

15

6.5% to < 7.0%

16

7.0% to < 7.5%

17

7.5% to < 8.0%

18

8.0% to < 8.5%

19

> 8.5%

20

B. In calculating the average unemployment rate for the purpose of determining the maximum duration of benefits available, the Commission shall use publicly reported, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate figures for the Commonwealth. On a monthly basis, the Commission shall publish on its website the average unemployment rate and the maximum duration of benefits available, determined by the table in subsection A, for claimants who file an initial claim for unemployment benefits in that month.

C. Benefits paid pursuant to § 60.2-610 or 60.2-611 are not subject to the provisions of this section.