House Bill 115 Summary

• Removes the sliding scale table that previously tied maximum benefit weeks to the ratio of total base period earnings to highest quarter earnings, replacing it with a simpler unemployment rate-based system.

• Establishes maximum weekly unemployment benefits ranging from 12 to 20 weeks based on Idaho's third quarter average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, with 12 weeks when unemployment is 5% or less and 20 weeks when unemployment exceeds 8.5%.

• Requires the Idaho Department of Labor to publish annually on its website the average unemployment rate and corresponding maximum weeks of benefit entitlement for each calendar year.

• Maintains existing provisions regarding wage deductions for claimants earning wages during benefit weeks and requires benefits to be rounded to the next lower full dollar amount.

• Declares an emergency and establishes an effective date of July 1, 2023.