AN ACT AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF THE 1-WEEK WAITING PERIOD FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to make certain changes in law in response to a public health emergency, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 23 of chapter 151A of the General Laws, the director of unemployment assistance shall waive the 1-week waiting period for any person making a claim for unemployment benefits who has become separated from work as a result of any circumstance relating to or resulting from the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, or the effects of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency.
SECTION 2. Section 1 shall expire 90 days after termination of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency.
SECTION 3. Section 1 shall take effect as of March 10, 2020.
Approved, March 18, 2020.