BILL NUMBER: S1601

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to allowing a claimant who
voluntarily separates from employment during the COVID-19 emergency to
receive unemployment benefits

 
PURPOSE:

To change the definition of voluntary separation during the COVID-19
emergency, so that a claimant who voluntarily separates from employment
due to fear of exposure to COVID-19 shall be eligible to receive unem-
ployment benefits.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 593 of the Labor Law to provide that during the
COVID-19 declared emergency, a claimant shall not be disqualified from
receiving unemployment benefits due to voluntary separation from employ-
              

ment due to the fear of exposure to COVID-19 while on the job.

Section 2 is the effective date which is immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Normally, if an employee quits or "voluntarily separates" from their
job, that person is not eligible to collect unemployment insurance bene-
fits. This means that an employee must be laid off from work in order to
collect unemployment benefits. But these are not normal times. No one
should be forced to go to work during our current state of emergency if
doing so puts their health and even their lives at risk.

As long as workers fear that they may contact COVID-19 at their place of
employment, they should have the option of quitting their job and
collecting unemployment benefits.

This bill gives workers that option. It does not distinguish between
types of employment or the age or other circumstances of the worker.

This bill provides that during the current state of emergency, anyone
who is fearful of contacting COVID-19 at work can quit their job and
collect unemployment benefits.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None. New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.