2020 Senate Bill 886 / Public Act 229

Coronavirus epidemic response bills – expanded unemployment benefits

Introduced in the Senate

April 24, 2020

Introduced by Sen. Ken Horn (R-32)

To suspend for the duration of the coronavirus epidemic emergency various limits and requirements on state unemployment insurance benefits for layoffs related to the epidemic. Among other things benefits would be payable for up to 26 weeks instead of 20 weeks; benefit payments would not be charged to an employer’s unemployment payroll tax account; workers would not have to seek another job; “work-sharing” plans would be allowed and more.

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations

May 6, 2020

Referred to the Committee on Economic and Small Business Development

Oct. 8, 2020

Amendment offered

To tie-bar the bill to Senate Bill 911 and House Bills 6101, 6030, 6031 and 6032, meaning this bill cannot become law unless those ones do also. Those bills would extend liability exemptions to businesses and other institutions threatened by lawsuits claiming damages related to their operations during the coronavirus epidemic.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-13)

To tie-bar the bill to Senate Bills 995 to 1005, meaning this bill cannot become law unless those ones do also. Those bills are part of a Democratic legislative package that includes some of the same provisions as this bill, but would also make increased benefit amounts and durations permanent, and liberalize other rules in this employer-funded system.

The amendment failed 16 to 22 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-23)

To "break the tie-bar" between this bill and Senate Bill 911 and House Bills 6101, 6030, 6031 and 6032, meaning this bill would go into law if enacted even if those ones do not. Among other things those bills would extend liability exemptions to businesses and other institutions threatened by lawsuits claiming damages related to their operations during the coronavirus epidemic.

The amendment failed 16 to 22 (details)

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

To suspend through the end of 2020 various limits, restrictions and requirements related to collecting state unemployment insurance benefits for layoffs related to the epidemic. Among other things benefits would be payable for up to 26 weeks instead of 20 weeks; benefit payments would not be assessed against an employer’s unemployment insurance account; workers would not have to seek another job while collecting benefits; “work-sharing” plans would be allowed; eligibility restrictions would be eased and more. The bill also clarifies that individuals who are independent contractors were eligible for benefits as of March 15, 2020. The bill is "tie-barred" to other bills extending epidemic-related liability protections to employers and other institutions, meaning it cannot become law unless they also become law.

Oct. 13, 2020

Received

Received in the House

Oct. 13, 2020

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

In the Senate

Oct. 14, 2020

Passed in the Senate 37 to 0 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which among other changes, no longer requires bills extending epidemic-related liability protections to employers and other institutions to become law for this one to become law.

In the House

Oct. 14, 2020

Substitute offered by Rep. Brandt Iden (R-61)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Nate Shannon (D-25)

To extend the expanded benefits to April of 2021.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tommy Brann (R-77)

To tie-bar the bill to Senate Bill 911, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. SB 911 would allow retired state unemployment bureau staffers to return to work and collect a paycheck along with a pension check, so as to more quickly process benefit claims.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 101 to 0 (details)

To suspend through the end of 2020 various limits, restrictions and requirements related to collecting state unemployment insurance benefits for layoffs related to the epidemic. Among other things benefits would be payable for up to 26 weeks instead of 20 weeks; benefit payments would not be assessed against an employer’s unemployment insurance account; workers would not have to seek another job while collecting benefits; “work-sharing” plans would be allowed; eligibility restrictions would be eased and more. The bill also clarifies that individuals who are independent contractors were eligible for benefits as of March 15, 2020. An earlier "tie-bar" was removed, meaning other bills extending epidemic-related liability protections to employers and other institutions do not also have to become law for this one to become law.

Signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Oct. 20, 2020