House Bill 76 Summary

• Amends Idaho employment security law to define "agricultural labor" terms and make technical corrections to sections covering labor definitions, eligible employers, and wage calculations.

• Revises the definition of "eligible employer" by changing language from "chargeable for benefits" to "subject to the requirements" of state law regarding employer qualification periods.

• Clarifies wage exclusions by amending section 72-1328 to specify that employer payments under qualified plans for sickness, disability, medical expenses, and death are not counted as wages, with updated references to federal Internal Revenue Code sections.

• Removes the provision in section 72-1366(4)(c) that prohibited denial of benefits solely because a claimant seeks only part-time work, while maintaining the requirement that claimants be available for at least 20 hours of work per week.

• Revises section 72-1369 to grant the director discretion to compromise overpayments, civil penalties, interest, and disqualifications when in the department's best interest, changing from "may, in his sole" to "shall have discretion."