House Labor and Industry Committee Republican Chairman Seth Grove, along with Representatives Barb Gleim and Aaron Bernstine, introduced a series of bills aimed at addressing the solvency of Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation (UC) Trust Fund. The proposed legislation seeks to expedite the fund’s solvency while reducing taxes for workers and employers.
Greg Moreland, Pennsylvania state director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), expressed support for the initiative: “The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) commends Chairman Grove on this thoughtful legislative proposal. Unemployment Compensation is a vital resource to workers who have been let go, and we need to ensure that the fund is healthy.”
Grove’s proposals include two bills designed to prevent extended claims and adjust benefits for seasonal workers. The first bill ties maximum benefit duration to the state’s unemployment rate, aiming to incentivize unemployed individuals to return to work when unemployment is low. The second bill proposes aligning benefits for seasonal workers with those working year-round.
“My legislation creates a fairer, more equitable distribution of unemployment compensation benefits,” said Grove. “This would be done by simply basing a claimant’s weekly benefit rate on the average quarterly wage during the base year.”
Bernstine’s contribution involves requiring claimants to report other types of benefits indicating an inability to work, such as disability benefits. “This legislation is a commonsense measure to uphold the integrity of our unemployment compensation system,” Bernstine stated.
Gleim sponsored two additional bills focusing on tightening existing UC requirements. One bill mandates claimants disqualified due to their own fault demonstrate stronger workforce attachment before requalifying for benefits. Her second bill clarifies conditions under which claimants can receive UC benefits after voluntarily quitting employment.
“Unemployment compensation is intended to help people who become unemployed through no fault of their own,” Gleim emphasized.
Alex Halper from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry supported these efforts: “We applaud Chairman Grove for advancing this package of UC improvements.”
