Commission on Unemployment Compensation: Executive Summary of 2024 Interim Activity and Work (January 2025)

Summary

This January 2025 executive summary of 2024 interim activity and work comes from the Commission on Unemployment Compensation, which Chapter 33 of Title 30 of the Code of Virginia establishes. It states that the Commission met on December 4, 2024, and that its Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee met on October 8, 2024, when the Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission presented updates on the Commonwealth's Unemployment Insurance program. The Commission recommends SB 1056 / HB 1766, which would make the weekly benefit amount $100 higher for claims effective on or after January 1, 2026; SB 1057, which would raise from $50 to $100 the threshold for deduction of wages payable; and HB 2135, an allowance of $25 for each of up to three dependents.

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                COMMISSION ON UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
         EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF 2024 INTERIM ACTIVITY AND WORK
                                          January 2025


I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Chapter 33 (§ 30-218 et seq.) of Title 30 of the Code of Virginia establishes the Commission on
Unemployment Compensation (the Commission). The Commission is charged with:
      Evaluating the impact of existing statutes and proposed legislation on unemployment
       compensation and the Unemployment Trust Fund (the trust fund);
      Assessing the Commonwealth's unemployment compensation program and examining
       ways to enhance effectiveness;
      Monitoring the current status and long-term projections for the trust fund; and
      Reporting annually its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the
       Governor.
The Commission's membership is composed of Senators Adam P. Ebbin, Bill DeSteph, and
Christie New Craig and Delegates Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Destiny L. LeVere Bolling,
Candi Mundon King, Chris Runion, and C. Todd Gilbert. Senator Ebbin serves as the chair of the
Commission.
The Commission met on December 4, 2024. Although § 30-220 of the Code of Virginia requires
that the Commission meet at least two times per year, a second meeting was not held as a result
of scheduling difficulties.
The Commission's Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee (UI Subcommittee), established
pursuant to § 30-222, met on October 8, 2024. At such meeting, Demetrios "Mitch" Melis,
Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission, presented updates on the
Commonwealth's Unemployment Insurance program.
This executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Commission is submitted
pursuant to § 30-224 of the Code of Virginia and is provided in lieu of an annual report.

II. LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED
The Commission voted to recommend the following legislation for the General Assembly's 2024
legislative session:
SB 1056 (Ebbin) / HB 1766 (Martinez)
Unemployment compensation; increase weekly benefit amounts; report. For unemployment
compensation claims effective on or after January 1, 2026, an eligible individual's weekly benefit
amount shall be $100 higher than the current weekly benefit amount, as denoted in the table in
the bill. The bill directs the Commission on Unemployment Compensation, in consultation with
the Virginia Employment Commission, to convene a work group to study making annual
adjustments to individual weekly benefit amounts based on the average weekly wage. This bill is
a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation.



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SB 1057 (Ebbin)
Unemployment insurance; weekly benefit amount; increasing threshold for deduction of
wages payable. Provides that each individual eligible for unemployment benefits shall be paid a
weekly benefit amount less any part of the wages payable to such individual for such week that
is in excess of $100. Currently, each eligible individual shall be paid a weekly benefit amount
less any part of the wages payable to such individual for such week that is in excess of $50. This
bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation.


HB 2135 (Keys-Gamarra)
Unemployment compensation: allowance for dependents. Provides that, in addition to the
weekly unemployment benefit amount determined by relevant law, an eligible claimant who is
unemployed in any week shall be paid an allowance of $25 for each of up to three dependents of
such claimant. The bill defines "dependent" as the child, adopted child, or stepchild of a claimant
who, on January 1 of the benefit year, is wholly or partly supported by such claimant and
younger than 16 years of age. The bill requires any claimant declaring one or more dependents to
provide proof of such dependents in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission in
conformance with certain conditions enumerated in the bill. This bill is a recommendation of the
Commission on Unemployment Compensation.


III. CONCLUSION
Materials provided by speakers at the Commission's meetings in the 2024 interim may be found
on the Commission's website.




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