What's happening
This bill allows individuals to continue receiving unemployment benefits if they must leave work to provide child care after making reasonable efforts to find alternatives.
Why it matters
Expands eligibility for unemployment benefits to parents or guardians who must leave work due to child care responsibilities. , recognizing child care needs as a legitimate, “compelling family reason” for job separation.
Acknowledges the challenges of securing child care. by requiring individuals to demonstrate they made “reasonable efforts” to find alternatives before becoming eligible, which helps ensure the provision targets those with no other options.
Could improve financial stability for families facing sudden child care disruptions. , helping to prevent economic hardship and potential long-term joblessness for caregivers who are temporarily forced out of the workforce.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Benefits for Caregivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to labor
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to labor
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Unemployed Caregivers' Benefits
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Ellen C. Jaffee
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1410
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to compelling family reasons and the continuance of unemployment benefits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 593 of the labor law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (iv) to read as follows:
(iv) the need for the individual to provide child care to the individual's child if such individual has made reasonable efforts to secure alternative child care.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01186-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to compelling family reasons and the continuance of unemployment benefits
Purpose
To include childcare as a compelling family reason for purposes of unemployment insurance.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill would amend subdivision 1 of section 593 of the labor law to add childcare as a compelling family reason.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.
Effects of present law which this bill would alter
Section 593 enumerates circumstances that qualify as a compelling family reason for purposes of unemployment benefits. This bill would include childcare as a compelling family reason.
Justification
Unemployment insurance claimants who voluntarily separate from employment without good cause are ineligible for benefits. The labor law specifies that a "compelling family reason" constitutes good cause. The unemployment insurance appeal board and the courts have interpreted whether the need to provide childcare constitutes good cause with some decisions denying benefits and others ruling in favor of the claimant. This bill would ensure that workers who separate from employment due to childcare obligations, and have made reasonable efforts to secure alternative child care, are not denied benefits.
Legislative history
A7004 - 2015-16 A8919 - 2013-14
Fiscal implications
Unknown.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.