News & Information

CCH® UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE — 10/6/08

Louisiana amends its UI law on various topics

Louisiana has amended its Employment Security Law as follows:

Definitions. The term “Administrator” now refers to the Executive Director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The “Department of Labor” is now referred to as the “Louisiana Workforce Commission”.

Reimbursement payments. Benefits paid pursuant to certain Executive Orders and hurricane-related layoffs, which were previously deferred without interest, now will not be recouped. If an employer was insured by private entities, the state has the right to recoup such funds from those entities or their insurers.

Trust fund balance ranges. Procedure 3 now applies if the trust fund balance is equal or greater than one billion, one hundred fifty million but less than one billion four hundred million dollars. A new Procedure 4 applies if the trust fund balance is greater than one billion four hundred million dollars. In that case, benefits will be computed by applying R.S. §23:1592 without the 7.0% discount under R.S. §23:1592(C) and without the 5.0% discount under R.S. §23:1592(D) and then multiplying such amount by 1.05 and then by 1.32. The maximum weekly benefit in this case is $284.

Determination of rate. The law now provides that if the fund balance, including the funds in the benefit transfer account, is more than one billion, four hundred million dollars, each employer will get a 10.0% reduction in contributions.

Weekly benefit amount. The maximum weekly benefit amount is now $284, rather than $258 as previously provided.

Duration of benefits. Language that allowed an individual to collect benefits equal to the lesser of 26 weeks times his or her weekly benefit amount or 27% of his or her wages during the base period has been changed so that only the language regarding “26 times the weekly benefit amount” is applicable.

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