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HB 1582

TO REQUIRE CERTAIN ACTIONS AND ENCOURAGE CERTAIN ACTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES LAW.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jane English and 3 co-sponsors

HB 1582 requires Arkansas unemployment claimants to register on a job board and make five job search contacts weekly to maintain benefits, boosting job market engagement.

Notification that HB1582 is now Act 708
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1582

Summary of House Bill 1582 (Act 708)

Bill Number: HB 1582
Title: To Require Certain Actions and Encourage Certain Actions for an Individual to be Eligible for Benefits Under the Division of Workforce Services Law
Status: Enacted as Act 708
Introduced: February 25, 2025
Effective Date: January 1, 2026

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1582 aims to amend the Division of Workforce Services Law in Arkansas to enhance the job search requirements for individuals seeking unemployment benefits. The bill emphasizes the importance of active job searching and utilizes a state-maintained job board to facilitate job matching for claimants.

Key Provisions

The bill includes several significant changes to existing law:

  1. Job Registration and Reporting:

    • Individuals must register for work and maintain an account on the state-maintained job board, detailing their work experience, credentials, and relevant job information.
    • The director of the Division of Workforce Services has the authority to waive or alter these requirements in specific cases.

  2. Work Search Contacts:

    • Claimants are required to make at least five (5) work search contacts per week as part of their eligibility for benefits.
    • Individuals must report these contacts during their weekly certification process.

  3. Job Matching:

    • The state-maintained job board will match individuals with open jobs based on qualifications. A match is defined as meeting at least 75% of the job requirements.
    • Individuals who match with five or more jobs are encouraged to apply to the top five ranked positions. If fewer than five matches occur, they are encouraged to apply to all matching jobs and any other available positions.

  4. Consequences for Non-Compliance:

    • Failure to complete and report the required work search contacts will result in ineligibility for benefits for that week.

  5. Audit Requirement:

    • The Division of Workforce Services is mandated to audit at least 100 weekly work search reports for verification each week.

Impact

This legislation is expected to affect individuals claiming unemployment benefits in Arkansas by:
- Increasing accountability in job searching.
- Encouraging proactive engagement with the job market.
- Potentially improving employment rates by ensuring claimants are actively seeking work.

Procedural Timeline

  • February 25, 2025: Bill filed and referred to the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.
  • March 6, 2025: Amendment No. 1 adopted; bill engrossed.
  • March 17, 2025: Amendment No. 2 adopted; bill engrossed.
  • April 9, 2025: Bill passed by the House and returned from the Senate as passed.
  • April 16, 2025: Notification that HB 1582 is now Act 708.

This summary provides an overview of HB 1582, highlighting its purpose, key provisions, and the expected impact on individuals seeking unemployment benefits in Arkansas.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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