NY A08936

Freezes the unemployment insurance wage base at $12,800 (the January 2025 level), eliminating the scheduled automatic annual increases that were previously tied to 16-18% of the state's average annual wage

Establishes a new experience rating system with 21 rate classes based on employers' "average decline quotient" (measuring payroll decreases over a qualifying period), with experience factors ranging from 0.40 to 1.65

Sets employer contribution rates between 0.95% minimum and 5.4% maximum, calculated by multiplying the average benefit rate cost by the employer's experience factor plus any fund solvency adjustment

Creates a fund solvency adjustment mechanism that imposes surcharges up to 1% when the unemployment fund reserve rate falls below 1%, or provides credits up to 0.4% when the reserve rate exceeds 1.2%

Reduces contributions to the re-employment service fund from 0.075% to 0.0125% of quarterly taxable payroll, and assigns the highest contribution rate (5.4%) to employers delinquent $1,000 or more in payments or who fail to file required records