Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to modify the criteria under which an individual is deemed available for suitable employment in regards to unemployment benefits in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Definition Update: The bill revises the definition of "available for suitable employment" to mean that applicants must be truly connected to the workforce. Applicants may impose certain reasonable limits on suitable employment, but these limitations should not stop them from accepting suitable jobs entirely.

• Student Provisions: Students receiving unemployment benefits must show willingness to quit their regularly scheduled classes if attending those classes prevents them from accepting suitable employment unless they are participating in reemployment assistance training.

• Geographical Availability: Applicants who are temporarily away from their labor market area for personal reasons and not for job searching are considered unavailable for suitable employment.

• Work Hours Flexibility: Applicants must be flexible and available for work during typical daytime hours if that is when available suitable jobs are performed, even if their prior job was during the night shift.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill clarifies and strengthens the requirements for unemployment benefit recipients to demonstrate a genuine connection to the workforce by being prepared and available for work, even if it requires lifestyle adjustments such as altering class schedules or accepting daytime shifts.

Relevant Terms

available for suitable employment, unemployment benefits, workforce attachment, student availability, reemployment assistance training, labor market area, daytime employment.