(1) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section:
(a) “Department” means the Department of Economic Opportunity.
(b) “Employer-assisted claim” means an initial claim filed by an employer on behalf of its employees who are a part of a mass separation from the employer.
(c) “Mass separation” means a full, partial, permanent, or temporary separation, including a temporary layoff, of full-time employees from their employer if the separation occurs at or around the same time, the employees are separated for the same reason, and the separation is due to circumstances for which the employees are not at fault. At a minimum, a mass separation involves 1,000 or more employees.
(2) EMPLOYER-ASSISTED CLAIM PROCESS.—
(a) Initiation.—An employer that commences a mass separation may initiate an employer-assisted claim by submitting employee information to the department within 10 days after the date of the mass separation pursuant to rules adopted by the department.
(b) Form of submission.—Due to the sensitive nature of employee information, an employer shall submit employee information through secure means approved by department rule.
(c) Notice and affidavit.—For each employer-assisted claim, the employer shall give notice and instructions to the employees for which claims are filed and direct the employees to complete further steps as required by the department. The employer shall provide an attestation to the department in a form and format required by the department.
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE OF CLAIM.—The effective date of an employer-assisted claim is the Sunday immediately preceding the date on which the employer-assisted claim is received by the department.
(4) PAYMENTS.—Weeks of benefits paid to a claimant pursuant to an employer-assisted claim count toward the maximum benefits for which the claimant is eligible.
(5) CLAIMANT FILING REQUIREMENTS.—A claimant covered by an employer-assisted claim must file continued biweekly claims pursuant to department rule.
(6) CONSTRUCTION.—This section does not limit, alter, or amend a claimant’s rights under this chapter relating to a hearing if a claimant is denied a claim.
(7) RULEMAKING.—The department shall adopt rules establishing additional procedures for filing an employer-assisted claim and may adopt additional rules to administer this section.
History.—s. 12, ch. 2021-25.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 443 - Reemployment Assistance
443.012 - Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission.
443.031 - Rule of Liberal Construction.
443.041 - Waiver of Rights; Fees; Privileged Communications.
443.051 - Benefits Not Alienable; Exception, Child Support Intercept.
443.061 - Vested Rights Not Created.
443.091 - Benefit Eligibility Conditions.
443.101 - Disqualification for Benefits.
443.111 - Payment of Benefits.
443.1113 - Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System.
443.1116 - Short-Time Compensation.
443.1118 - Employer-Assisted Claims.
443.121 - Employing Units Affected.
443.1312 - Reimbursements; Nonprofit Organizations.
443.1313 - Public Employers; Reimbursements; Election to Pay Contributions.
443.1315 - Treatment of Indian Tribes.
443.1316 - Reemployment Assistance Tax Collection Services; Interagency Agreement.
443.1317 - Rulemaking Authority; Enforcement of Rules.
443.141 - Collection of Contributions and Reimbursements.
443.151 - Procedure Concerning Claims.
443.163 - Electronic Reporting and Remitting of Contributions and Reimbursements.
443.1715 - Disclosure of Information; Confidentiality.
443.17161 - Authorized Electronic Access to Employer Information.
443.181 - Public Employment Service.
443.191 - Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund; Establishment and Control.
443.211 - Employment Security Administration Trust Fund; Appropriation; Reimbursement.