H 960

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 H  1
  HOUSE BILL 960
 Short Title:   UI/Give Enhanced Benefits During Disasters.  (Public)
 Sponsors:      Representatives Longest, Ager, Butler, and Lofton (Primary Sponsors).
  For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
 Referred to:   Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
  April 14, 2025
1A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT AUTHORIZING ACTIVATION OF AN INCREASED UNEMPLOYMENT
3     INSURANCE WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT WHEN A DISASTER IS DECLARED
4     UNDER THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT.
5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
6SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 96-14.2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
7     "(f)   Temporary Enhancement During Declared Disasters. – Subject to the certification
8 requirements of G.S. 96-9.3(f), for claims filed during any period in which a disaster declaration
9 has been declared pursuant to G.S. 166A-19.21, and for the duration of the declaration, the
10 maximum weekly benefit amount shall be temporarily increased to six hundred dollars ($600.00),
11 notwithstanding the maximum weekly benefit amount established under subsection (a) of this
12 section."
13SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 96-9.2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
14     "(f)   Enhanced Benefit Earmarking. – Funds within the Unemployment Insurance Fund
15 shall be earmarked as a reserve dedicated to funding the enhanced benefits authorized by
16 G.S. 96-14.2(f). The Division shall project annually the amount of funds reasonably necessary to
17 maintain the sufficiency for providing the enhanced benefits. Beginning January 1, 2027, then
18 annually thereafter, the Division shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on
19 Unemployment Insurance regarding the projections and earmarks for the preceding year."
20SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 96-9.3 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
21     "(f)   Certification of Sufficient Funding. – The Division shall certify that sufficient funds
22 have been earmarked under G.S. 96-9.2(f) to pay enhanced benefits under G.S. 166A-19.20,
23 prior to the implementation of enhanced benefits under G.S. 96-14.2(f). If the Division
24 determines that funds in the Account are insufficient to provide enhanced benefits for the
25 anticipated duration of the disaster declaration, temporary enhancement under G.S. 96-14.2(f)
26 shall not take effect for that disaster declaration unless the General Assembly enacts the
27 temporary enhancement in accordance with Article II, Section 23 of the North Carolina
28 Constitution."
29SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
  *H960-v-1*