AR HB1001

Approves the Governor's decision dated May 7, 2021, to terminate Arkansas's participation in six federal unemployment programs: Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, Emergency Unemployment Relief for Governmental Entities and Nonprofit Organizations, and Temporary Full Federal Funding of the First Week of Compensable Regular Unemployment for States with No Waiting Week.

Approves the notice of intent to terminate the Agreement Implementing the Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor on May 19, 2021, effective as provided in that agreement.

Amends Arkansas Code § 11-10-312 to clarify that the Director of the Division of Workforce Services may (not shall) participate in voluntary, optional, special, or emergency federal unemployment programs and may cease participation without conflicting with state law requirements.

Declares an emergency, citing economic recovery, decreased unemployment rates, and tens of thousands of unfilled job vacancies, and makes the act retroactive to May 19, 2021.

Becomes effective upon Governor approval, expiration of the veto period, or veto override, whichever occurs first.