Wisconsin Legislative Leaders Unveil Workforce Recovery Legislation
Bill Aims to encourage individuals to return-to-work amid statewide worker shortage
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) have unveiled Workforce Recovery legislation they say is aimed at encouraging unemployed individuals to return-to-work amid the state’s workforce shortage. The legislation would end Wisconsin’s participation in federal unemployment compensation enhancement programs that Republican lawmakers believe provide a disincentive for returning to work.
The bill ends Wisconsin’s participation in the following federal programs:
- Pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) program
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment compensation (PEUC) program
- Federal pandemic unemployment compensation (FPUC) program
- Mixed earner unemployment compensation (MEUC) program
The proposed legislation would also prohibit the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) from waiving the work search requirements for any reason that is related to COVID. As of today, 21 other states have opted out of the federal unemployment insurance benefit enhancers, which are set to expire on September 6, 2021.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Republican lawmakers introduce legislation ending enhanced unemployment programs in Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Journal – State Republicans introduce bill to eliminate $300 federal unemployment benefits in Wisconsin
