NTF Issue Paper: legwatch31.doc. 1-18.
NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS FOR FREEDOM ISSUE PAPER:
ENDING BENEFITS FOR THE UNDESERVING.
BACKGROUND. Workers who suffer legitimate ailments and injuries deserve legitimate access to unemployment benefits. Employers contribute to this fund annually, and the necessity for increasing funding has caused the spiraling of mandated employer contributions. The NE unemployment compensation system currently is too lax and causes a financial burden to NE large and small employers. Conservative State Sen. Joni Albrecht has introduced a bill to pare the unemployment benefit system to disqualify an element of undeserving applicants.
THE BILL. LB 712 relieves employers and local communities and offers incentives to those who should improve their health situation. The legislation prohibits unemployment benefits, if an applicant faced firing or denial of employment because of illegal drug use. Considered as refusing to accept suitable work are those failing a pre-employment drug screening test required by an employer as a condition of employment. The state labor commissioner can require drug testing of those applying for or receiving unemployment benefits. He also may require drug testing of anyone fired from employment because of illegal use of drugs. Individuals who fail a test for illegal drugs when tested or who fail to take a drug test when mandated will become ineligible for benefits for that week in which he failed the test or refused to take such a test and all intervening weeks until the week that he successfully passes a drug test. Conservative Sen. Tom Brewer co-sponsors this bill.
TAKE ACTION NOW. LB 712 will have a public hearing in the Business & Labor Committee on Jan. 22. Contact the following committee senators and urge them to vote to advance LB 712 to the full Legislature for full debate: Sens. Sue Crawford, John Lowe, Steve Halloran, Matt Hansen, and Sara Howard. If the bill advances from committee, contact your individual senator. Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for state senator contact information.
Research, documentation, and analysis for this issue paper done by Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom. This material copyrighted by Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, with express prior permission granted for its use by other groups in the NE Conservative Coalition Network. 1-18. C.