Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to provide an exception related to unemployment benefits for individuals who were laid off from iron ore mining jobs. It allows them to temporarily work in emergency medical services (EMS) without affecting their unemployment benefits.

Main Provisions

• Individuals laid off from employment in the iron ore mining industry between April 1, 2025, and July 2, 2025, are eligible for this exception.
• Temporary work in the emergency medical services sector is deemed an acceptable reason for these individuals if they fail to search for or accept other "suitable employment."
• Any income earned through this temporary EMS employment will not reduce the individual's weekly unemployment benefit amount.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces an exception to the standard rules regarding unemployment benefits. Typically, unemployed individuals must actively seek and accept suitable employment to maintain their benefits. This exception allows certain workers to engage in temporary EMS work without penalizing their unemployment compensation.

Relevant Terms

• Unemployment insurance
• Emergency medical services (EMS)
• Iron ore mining industry
• Temporary employment
• Weekly unemployment benefit