Amendment ID: S2001-17

Amendment 17

Assisting Long-Term Unemployed and Older Workers

Mr. Tarr moves to amend the bill by inserting, after Section__, the following new Section:-

“SECTION__.  The department of unemployment assistance shall, beginning on December 31, 2014 and continuing annually through December 31, 2016, prepare a report on the number of unemployment claimants who are over the age of 50 and those recipients experiencing long-term unemployment.  For the purposes of this section, the term “long-term unemployment” shall apply to those workers who have been unemployed for more than 27 weeks.  Said report shall be submitted to the clerks of the house and senate and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development and posted on the websites of the clerks of the house and senate and the joint committee on labor and workforce development no later than December 31, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

In conjunction with said report, the department shall also develop specialized training programs and strategies for addressing the unique needs of older workers and the long-term unemployed.  The focus of these programs shall include, but not be limited to, retraining, the development of marketing skills, job search training, resume assistance and job placement.  The department’s annual report to the legislature shall include details on the success of said programs in assisting older workers and the long-term unemployed with securing employment.”