2001 Montana Legislature

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SENATE BILL NO. 428

INTRODUCED BY D. HARRINGTON, BOHLINGER, BUZZAS, CARNEY, CHRISTIAENS, CLANCY, COCCHIARELLA, CYR, DOHERTY, ELLINGSON, ERICKSON, FRANKLIN, FRITZ, GALLIK, GALVIN-HALCRO, GOLIE, JACOBSON, JENT, JERGESON, JUNEAU, KAUFMANN, KEANE, KITZENBERG, LASLOVICH, LEE, LENHART, LINDEEN, MANGAN, MATTHEWS, MCCARTHY, MUSGROVE, NELSON, NEWMAN, PEASE, RASER, ROUSH, SCHMIDT, SHEA, STONINGTON,

TESTER, WANZENRIED

Montana State Seal

AN ACT INCREASING THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE MAXIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT FROM 60 PERCENT TO 63 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; AMENDING SECTION 39-51-2201, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:



     Section 1.  Section 39-51-2201, MCA, is amended to read:

     "39-51-2201.  Weekly benefit amount -- determination of average weekly wage. (1) For claims filed before July 7, 1985, an eligible individual's weekly benefit amount shall be the total base period wages divided by the number of weeks of covered employment times 50%. The weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, must be rounded to the nearest lower full dollar amount. However, such amount shall not be less than the minimum or more than the maximum weekly benefit amount. For claims effective July 7, 1985, and filed before July 7, 1991, an individual's weekly benefit amount shall be the total base period wages divided by the number of weeks of covered employment times 49%. The weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, must be rounded to the nearest lower full dollar amount. However, such amount shall not be less than the minimum or more than the maximum weekly benefit amount.

     (2)(1)  For claims filed on or after July 7, 1991, an An individual's weekly benefit amount must be an amount equal to 1% of the total base period wages or equal to 1.9% of the total wages paid in the 2 calendar quarters in which wages were the highest during the base period. The weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, must be rounded to the nearest lower full dollar amount. However, the amount may not be less than the minimum or more than the maximum weekly benefit amount.

     (3)(2)  On or before May 31 of each year, the total wages paid by all employers as reported on contribution reports submitted on or before such that date for the preceding calendar year shall must be divided by the average monthly number of individuals employed during the same preceding calendar year as reported on such the contribution reports. The amount thus obtained is the average annual wage. The average annual wage divided by 52, rounded to the nearest cent, is the average weekly wage. Sixty percent The maximum weekly benefit amount is 63% of the average weekly wage shall constitute the maximum weekly benefit amount and shall apply must be applied to all maximum weekly benefit amount claims for benefits filed to establish a benefit year commencing on or after July 1 of the same year, except that the maximum weekly benefit amount for benefit years commencing on or after July 1, 1984, through January 3, 1987, is the amount calculated under this subsection after January 1, 1984, and on or before May 31, 1984. Such The maximum weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, shall must be computed to the nearest lower full dollar amount.

     (4)(3)  The minimum weekly benefit amount shall must be 15% of the average weekly wage. The minimum weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, shall must be computed to the nearest lower full dollar amount."



     Section 2.  Effective date -- applicability. [This act] is effective July 1, 2001, and applies to claims for benefits filed on or after July 1, 2001.

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Latest Version of SB 428 (SB0428.ENR)
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