KY SB163

Requires unemployment claimants to complete at least 5 verifiable work search activities per week, with at least 3 being formal job applications or interviews

Defines qualifying work search activities as submitting applications, interviewing, job shadowing, attending job fairs, participating in job search workshops, or engaging with Kentucky Career Center programs

Extends the return-to-work exemption period from 16 weeks to 12 months, allowing claimants with verified recall prospects to receive benefits without active job searching

Creates new exemption for workers whose employer becomes nonoperational due to natural disaster, if operations expected to resume within 12 months

Mandates randomized weekly audits of claimants' work search compliance, with annual reports to the Governor and Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment detailing compliance rates, common activities, and methodology