KANSAS – ROBUST BILL USHERS IN COUNTLESS NEW/UPDATED UNEMPLOYMENT POLICIES
Governor Laura Kelly recently signed into law several new bills, including Substitute for House Bill 2570, which makes updates to the state’s unemployment policies. All updated policies will go into effect July 1, 2024 and includes the following:
- New Benefit Year Calculation: The unemployment benefit year will now start the Sunday of the first week filed, updated from the current claim filed start date.
- Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA): The maximum WBA will be recalculated each year on July 1 and will be 55% of the statewide weekly wage average.
- Benefit Charges: Benefit charges will now be reported per calendar quarter, increased from the current annual reporting.
- Taxable Wage Base: Verbiage surrounding the taxable wage base was condensed and historical information was removed. The taxable wage base will remain $14,000 through at least 2025.
- Rates & Rate Tables: Rates will be calculated and published no less than 120 days prior to the calendar year end. However, rates recalculated in full/partial successorship will be issued on the1st day of next calendar year. Changes to both Positive Employers Table A and Negative Employers Table B were also made.
- Voluntary Contribution Deadlines: The state has extended the deadline for all voluntary contributions to 90 days, up from 30 days.
- Temporary Unemployment: Temporary unemployment may be available if a claimant is laid off due to lack of work, was working full-time, and has a reasonable expectation to return to work within four (4) weeks. Temporary benefits cannot exceed four (4) weeks, but an employer may request additional weeks from the Secretary.
- Job Refusals: The bill creates a system to submit reports on job searches by claimants but does not require employers to report refusals or failure to appear for interviews.
- Electronic Filing: For all reports due after June 30, 2024, employers with 25 or more employees will be required to electronically file wage reports, contribution returns and payments and interest assessments. This employee count threshold was decreased from 50 to 25 employees with this bill.
- Federal Benefits: If federal benefits are in effect and are equal to or exceed state benefits, state benefits will be temporarily suspended.
- Fund Abolishment: The Employment Security Interest Assessment Fund will be abolished as of July 1, 2024. All money will be transferred to the Employment Security Trust Fund.
Additional details and the full bill can be found on the Kansas state legislature website.
