AN ACT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS THROUGH THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to forthwith make certain changes in unemployment insurance 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. Subsection (c) of section 29 of chapter 151A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence.
SECTION 2. Section 30 of said chapter 151A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 17, the words “amount if,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- amount if: (i) in any month during the individual's benefit year, the requirements of this section have not been met; or (ii) during the benefit year the number of initial claims filed in any week exceeds 100,000, unless the federal government has authorized a period of extended benefits, in which case the total benefits shall remain at 26 times the benefit rate until the federal extended benefits have been exhausted.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding section 14 of chapter 151A of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, for an individual separated from employment as a result of any circumstance related to or resulting from the effects 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, benefits paid to that individual under said chapter 151A shall not be charged to the account of any employer nor included in the calculation of an employer’s experience rate; provided, however, that such benefits shall be charged to the solvency account to the extent such benefits are not paid for by federal funds.
SECTION 4. Notwithstanding sections 14A and 14C of chapter 151A of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, for an individual separated from employment as a result of any circumstance related to or resulting from the effects 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, benefits paid to that individual under said chapter 151A shall not be charged to the account of any employer to the extent that such benefits are paid for by federal funds.
SECTION 5. Notwithstanding 430 CMR 5.06, 430 CMR 22.06 or any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a nonprofit organization shall have 120 days from the date of the next scheduled payment due after the effective date of this act to pay contributions or make payment in lieu of contributions pursuant to section 14 or section 14A of chapter 151A of the General Laws without penalty or interest.
SECTION 6. Sections 3 and 4 are hereby repealed.
SECTION 7. Section 1 shall take effect 540 days after termination of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency.
SECTION 8. Section 2 shall take effect on January 1, 2021.
SECTION 9. Sections 3 and 4 shall take effect as of March 10, 2020.
SECTION 10. Section 6 shall take effect 1 year from the effective date of this act or 180 days after termination of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency, whichever is later.
Approved, May 26, 2020.