This bill allows eligible, unemployed maintenance and janitorial employees of public and nonprofit educational institutions and institutions of higher education to receive unemployment benefits during summer breaks, customary vacation periods, and holiday recesses.
Personal Choice and Responsibility
This is a type of double-dipping at the expense of all taxpayers. Most school employment is an annual salary earned in 9 months but paid out over 12-months. Plus health coverage is year round. The bill is pushed by unions.
Fiscal Responsibility
Oregon Employment Department estimates that payments, thus loss to the UI trust fund, will amount to $420,000 in the 2019-21 biennium and $560,000 in the 2021-23 biennium. These outflows will also result in interest earnings loss.
Limited Government
Allows janitorial and maintenance employees of public and nonprofit educational institutions to receive unemployment insurance, if standard eligibility requirements are met, during school breaks, vacations, and holidays in situations where the employee has a reasonable assurance of returning to work after the break. For employers who directly reimburse the Employment Department for unemployment insurance benefits paid to former employees, House Bill 2660-A prohibits employer from telling an employee they are ineligible for benefits in absence of Employment Department eligibility determination. Employers who reimburse are either a nonprofit, state or local government, or an Indian tribe.
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