| 1 | A bill to be entitled | 
| 2 | An act relating to unemployment compensation; amending s.  | 
| 3 | 213.053, F.S.; increasing the number of employer payroll  | 
| 4 | service providers who qualify for access to unemployment  | 
| 5 | tax information by filing a memorandum of understanding;  | 
| 6 | amending s. 443.031, F.S.; revising provisions relating to  | 
| 7 | statutory construction; amending s. 443.036, F.S.;  | 
| 8 | revising and providing definitions; revising the term  | 
| 9 | "misconduct" to include conduct outside of the workplace  | 
| 10 | and additional lapses in behavior; amending s. 443.041,  | 
| 11 | F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 443.091,  | 
| 12 | F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act;  | 
| 13 | requiring that an applicant for benefits participate in an  | 
| 14 | initial skills review; providing exceptions; requiring the  | 
| 15 | administrator or operator of the initial skills review to  | 
| 16 | notify specified entities regarding review completion and  | 
| 17 | results; amending s. 443.101, F.S.; clarifying "good  | 
| 18 | cause" for voluntarily leaving employment; disqualifying a  | 
| 19 | person for benefits due to the receipt of severance pay;  | 
| 20 | revising provisions relating to the effects of criminal  | 
| 21 | acts on eligibility for benefits; amending s. 443.111,  | 
| 22 | F.S.; providing a definition; reducing the amount and  | 
| 23 | revising the calculation of the number of weeks of a  | 
| 24 | claimant's benefit eligibility; amending s. 443.1216,  | 
| 25 | F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act;  | 
| 26 | amending s. 443.131, F.S.; providing definitions; revising  | 
| 27 | an employer's unemployment compensation contribution rate  | 
| 28 | by certain factors; amending s. 443.141, F.S.; providing  | 
| 29 | an employer payment schedule for 2012, 2013, and 2014  | 
| 30 | contributions; amending s. 443.151, F.S.; revising  | 
| 31 | allowable forms of evidence in benefit appeals; revising  | 
| 32 | the judicial venue for reviewing commission orders;  | 
| 33 | amending s. 443.171, F.S.; specifying that evidence of  | 
| 34 | mailing an agency document is based on the date stated on  | 
| 35 | the document; reviving, readopting, and amending s.  | 
| 36 | 443.1117, F.S., relating to temporary extended benefits;  | 
| 37 | providing for retroactive application; establishing  | 
| 38 | temporary state extended benefits for weeks of  | 
| 39 | unemployment; revising definitions; providing for state  | 
| 40 | extended benefits for certain weeks and for periods of  | 
| 41 | high unemployment; providing severability; providing  | 
| 42 | applicability; providing appropriations for purposes of  | 
| 43 | implementation; providing that the act fulfills an  | 
| 44 | important state interest; providing effective dates. | 
| 45 | 
  | 
| 46 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: | 
| 47 | 
  | 
| 48 |      Section 1.  Subsection (4) of section 213.053, Florida  | 
| 49 | Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 50 |      213.053  Confidentiality and information sharing.- | 
| 51 |      (4)  The department, while providing unemployment tax  | 
| 52 | collection services under contract with the Agency for Workforce  | 
| 53 | Innovation through an interagency agreement pursuant to s.  | 
| 54 | 443.1316, may release unemployment tax rate information to the  | 
| 55 | agent of an employer who, which agent provides payroll services  | 
| 56 | for more than 100 500 employers, pursuant to the terms of a  | 
| 57 | memorandum of understanding. The memorandum of understanding  | 
| 58 | must state that the agent affirms, subject to the criminal  | 
| 59 | penalties contained in ss. 443.171 and 443.1715, that the agent  | 
| 60 | will retain the confidentiality of the information, that the  | 
| 61 | agent has in effect a power of attorney from the employer which  | 
| 62 | permits the agent to obtain unemployment tax rate information,  | 
| 63 | and that the agent shall provide the department with a copy of  | 
| 64 | the employer's power of attorney upon request. | 
| 65 |      Section 2.  Section 443.031, Florida Statutes, is amended  | 
| 66 | to read: | 
| 67 |      443.031  Rule of liberal construction.-This chapter shall  | 
| 68 | be liberally construed to accomplish its purpose to promote  | 
| 69 | employment security by increasing opportunities for reemployment  | 
| 70 | and to provide, through the accumulation of reserves, for the  | 
| 71 | payment of compensation to individuals with respect to their  | 
| 72 | unemployment. The Legislature hereby declares its intention to  | 
| 73 | provide for carrying out the purposes of this chapter in  | 
| 74 | cooperation with the appropriate agencies of other states and of  | 
| 75 | the Federal Government as part of a nationwide employment  | 
| 76 | security program, and particularly to provide for meeting the  | 
| 77 | requirements of Title III, the requirements of the Federal  | 
| 78 | Unemployment Tax Act, and the Wagner-Peyser Act of June 6, 1933,  | 
| 79 | entitled "An Act to provide for the establishment of a national  | 
| 80 | employment system and for cooperation with the states in the  | 
| 81 | promotion of such system, and for other purposes," each as  | 
| 82 | amended, in order to secure for this state and its citizens the  | 
| 83 | grants and privileges available under such acts. All doubts in  | 
| 84 | favor of a claimant of unemployment benefits who is unemployed  | 
| 85 | through no fault of his or her own. Any doubt as to the proper  | 
| 86 | construction of any provision of this chapter shall be resolved  | 
| 87 | in favor of conformity with such requirements federal law,  | 
| 88 | including, but not limited to, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act,  | 
| 89 | the Social Security Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the  | 
| 90 | Workforce Investment Act. | 
| 91 |      Section 3.  Present subsections (26) through (45) of  | 
| 92 | section 443.036, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections  | 
| 93 | (28) through (47), respectively, new subsections (26) and (27)  | 
| 94 | are added to that section, and present subsections (6), (9),  | 
| 95 | (29), and (43) of that section are amended, to read: | 
| 96 |      443.036  Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term: | 
| 97 |      (6)  "Available for work" means actively seeking and being  | 
| 98 | ready and willing to accept suitable work employment. | 
| 99 |      (9)  "Benefit year" means, for an individual, the 1-year  | 
| 100 | period beginning with the first day of the first week for which  | 
| 101 | the individual first files a valid claim for benefits and,  | 
| 102 | thereafter, the 1-year period beginning with the first day of  | 
| 103 | the first week for which the individual next files a valid claim  | 
| 104 | for benefits after the termination of his or her last preceding  | 
| 105 | benefit year. Each claim for benefits made in accordance with s.  | 
| 106 | 443.151(2) is a valid claim under this subsection if the  | 
| 107 | individual was paid wages for insured work in accordance with s.  | 
| 108 | 443.091(1)(g) and is unemployed as defined in subsection (45)  | 
| 109 | (43) at the time of filing the claim. However, the Agency for  | 
| 110 | Workforce Innovation may adopt rules providing for the  | 
| 111 | establishment of a uniform benefit year for all workers in one  | 
| 112 | or more groups or classes of service or within a particular  | 
| 113 | industry if the agency determines, after notice to the industry  | 
| 114 | and to the workers in the industry and an opportunity to be  | 
| 115 | heard in the matter, that those groups or classes of workers in  | 
| 116 | a particular industry periodically experience unemployment  | 
| 117 | resulting from layoffs or shutdowns for limited periods of time. | 
| 118 |      (26)  "Individual in continued reporting status" means an  | 
| 119 | individual who has been determined to be eligible pursuant to s.  | 
| 120 | 443.091 who is reporting to the Agency for Workforce Innovation  | 
| 121 | in accordance with s. 443.091(1)(c). | 
| 122 |      (27)  "Initial skills review" means an online education or  | 
| 123 | training program, such as that established under s. 1004.99,  | 
| 124 | that is approved by the Agency for Workforce Innovation and  | 
| 125 | designed to measure an individual's mastery level of workplace  | 
| 126 | skills. | 
| 127 |      (31)(29)  "Misconduct," irrespective of whether the  | 
| 128 | misconduct occurs at the workplace or during working hours,  | 
| 129 | includes, but is not limited to, the following, which may not be  | 
| 130 | construed in pari materia with each other: | 
| 131 |      (a)  Conduct demonstrating conscious willful or wanton  | 
| 132 | disregard of an employer's interests and found to be a  | 
| 133 | deliberate violation or disregard of the reasonable standards of  | 
| 134 | behavior which the employer expects has a right to expect of his  | 
| 135 | or her employee.; or | 
| 136 |      (b)  Carelessness or negligence to a degree or recurrence  | 
| 137 | that manifests culpability, wrongful intent, or evil design or  | 
| 138 | shows an intentional and substantial disregard of the employer's  | 
| 139 | interests or of the employee's duties and obligations to his or  | 
| 140 | her employer. | 
| 141 |      (c)  Chronic absenteeism or tardiness in deliberate  | 
| 142 | violation of a known policy of the employer or one or more  | 
| 143 | unapproved absences following a written reprimand or warning  | 
| 144 | relating to more than one unapproved absence. | 
| 145 |      (d)  A willful and deliberate violation of a standard or  | 
| 146 | regulation of this state by an employee of an employer licensed  | 
| 147 | or certified by this state, which violation would cause the  | 
| 148 | employer to be sanctioned or have its license or certification  | 
| 149 | suspended by this state. | 
| 150 |      (e)  A violation of an employer's rule, unless the claimant  | 
| 151 | can demonstrate that: | 
| 152 |      1.  He or she did not know, and could not reasonably know,  | 
| 153 | of the rule's requirements; | 
| 154 |      2.  The rule is not lawful or not reasonably related to the  | 
| 155 | job environment and performance; or | 
| 156 |      3.  The rule is not fairly or consistently enforced. | 
| 157 |      (45)(43)  "Unemployment" or "unemployed" means: | 
| 158 |      (a)  An individual is "totally unemployed" in any week  | 
| 159 | during which he or she does not perform any services and for  | 
| 160 | which earned income is not payable to him or her. An individual  | 
| 161 | is "partially unemployed" in any week of less than full-time  | 
| 162 | work if the earned income payable to him or her for that week is  | 
| 163 | less than his or her weekly benefit amount. The Agency for  | 
| 164 | Workforce Innovation may adopt rules prescribing distinctions in  | 
| 165 | the procedures for unemployed individuals based on total  | 
| 166 | unemployment, part-time unemployment, partial unemployment of  | 
| 167 | individuals attached to their regular jobs, and other forms of  | 
| 168 | short-time work. | 
| 169 |      (b)  An individual's week of unemployment commences only  | 
| 170 | after his or her registration with the Agency for Workforce  | 
| 171 | Innovation as required in s. 443.091, except as the agency may  | 
| 172 | otherwise prescribe by rule. | 
| 173 |      Section 4.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section  | 
| 174 | 443.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 175 |      443.041  Waiver of rights; fees; privileged  | 
| 176 | communications.- | 
| 177 |      (2)  FEES.- | 
| 178 |      (b)  An attorney at law representing a claimant for  | 
| 179 | benefits in any district court of appeal of this state or in the  | 
| 180 | Supreme Court of Florida is entitled to counsel fees payable by  | 
| 181 | the Agency for Workforce Innovation as set by the court if the  | 
| 182 | petition for review or appeal is initiated by the claimant and  | 
| 183 | results in a decision awarding more benefits than provided in  | 
| 184 | the decision from which appeal was taken. The amount of the fee  | 
| 185 | may not exceed 50 percent of the total amount of regular  | 
| 186 | benefits permitted under s. 443.111(5)(b)(a) during the benefit  | 
| 187 | year. | 
| 188 |      Section 5.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section  | 
| 189 | 443.091, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 190 |      443.091  Benefit eligibility conditions.- | 
| 191 |      (1)  An unemployed individual is eligible to receive  | 
| 192 | benefits for any week only if the Agency for Workforce  | 
| 193 | Innovation finds that: | 
| 194 |      (b)  She or he has registered with the agency for work and  | 
| 195 | subsequently reports to the one-stop career center as directed  | 
| 196 | by the regional workforce board for reemployment services. This  | 
| 197 | requirement does not apply to persons who are: | 
| 198 |      1.  Non-Florida residents; | 
| 199 |      2.  On a temporary layoff, as defined in s. 443.036(42); | 
| 200 |      3.  Union members who customarily obtain employment through  | 
| 201 | a union hiring hall; or | 
| 202 |      4.  Claiming benefits under an approved short-time  | 
| 203 | compensation plan as provided in s. 443.1116. | 
| 204 |      Section 6.  Effective August 1, 2011, paragraph (c) of  | 
| 205 | subsection (1) of section 443.091, Florida Statutes, is amended  | 
| 206 | to read: | 
| 207 |      443.091  Benefit eligibility conditions.- | 
| 208 |      (1)  An unemployed individual is eligible to receive  | 
| 209 | benefits for any week only if the Agency for Workforce  | 
| 210 | Innovation finds that: | 
| 211 |      (c)  To make continued claims for benefits, she or he is  | 
| 212 | reporting to the agency in accordance with its rules. | 
| 213 |      1.  These rules may not conflict with s. 443.111(1)(b),  | 
| 214 | including the requirement that each claimant continue to report  | 
| 215 | regardless of any pending appeal relating to her or his  | 
| 216 | eligibility or disqualification for benefits. | 
| 217 |      2.  An individual in continued reporting status must  | 
| 218 | participate in an initial skills review as directed by the  | 
| 219 | agency. The failure of the individual to comply with this  | 
| 220 | subparagraph will result in the individual being determined  | 
| 221 | ineligible for the week in which the noncompliance occurred and  | 
| 222 | for any subsequent week of unemployment until the requirement is  | 
| 223 | satisfied. However, this subparagraph does not apply if the  | 
| 224 | individual is able to affirmatively attest to being unable to  | 
| 225 | complete such review due to illiteracy, language barrier, or  | 
| 226 | technological impediment. | 
| 227 |      3.  The administrator or operator of the initial skills  | 
| 228 | review must notify the agency when the individual completes  | 
| 229 | participation in the initial skills review. The administrator or  | 
| 230 | operator of the initial skills review must also report the  | 
| 231 | results of the individual's initial skills review to the  | 
| 232 | regional workforce board or the one-stop career center as  | 
| 233 | directed by the workforce board for reemployment services. | 
| 234 |      Section 7.  Effective August 1, 2011, paragraph (a) of  | 
| 235 | subsection (1) and subsections (2), (3), and (9) of section  | 
| 236 | 443.101, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (12) is  | 
| 237 | added to that section, to read: | 
| 238 |      443.101  Disqualification for benefits.-An individual shall  | 
| 239 | be disqualified for benefits: | 
| 240 |      (1)(a)  For the week in which he or she has voluntarily  | 
| 241 | left work without good cause attributable to his or her  | 
| 242 | employing unit or in which the individual has been discharged by  | 
| 243 | the employing unit for misconduct connected with his or her  | 
| 244 | work, based on a finding by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.  | 
| 245 | As used in this paragraph, the term "work" means any work,  | 
| 246 | whether full-time, part-time, or temporary. | 
| 247 |      1.  Disqualification for voluntarily quitting continues for  | 
| 248 | the full period of unemployment next ensuing after the  | 
| 249 | individual has left his or her full-time, part-time, or  | 
| 250 | temporary work voluntarily without good cause and until the  | 
| 251 | individual has earned income equal to or in excess of 17 times  | 
| 252 | his or her weekly benefit amount. As used in this subsection,  | 
| 253 | the term "good cause" includes only that cause attributable to  | 
| 254 | the employing unit that would compel a reasonable employee to  | 
| 255 | cease his or her work or which consists of the individual's  | 
| 256 | illness or disability requiring separation from his or her work.  | 
| 257 | Any other disqualification may not be imposed. An individual is  | 
| 258 | not disqualified under this subsection for voluntarily leaving  | 
| 259 | temporary work to return immediately when called to work by the  | 
| 260 | permanent employing unit that temporarily terminated his or her  | 
| 261 | work within the previous 6 calendar months. An individual is not  | 
| 262 | disqualified under this subsection for voluntarily leaving work  | 
| 263 | to relocate as a result of his or her military-connected  | 
| 264 | spouse's permanent change of station orders, activation orders,  | 
| 265 | or unit deployment orders. | 
| 266 |      2.  Disqualification for being discharged for misconduct  | 
| 267 | connected with his or her work continues for the full period of  | 
| 268 | unemployment next ensuing after having been discharged and until  | 
| 269 | the individual is reemployed and has earned income of at least  | 
| 270 | 17 times his or her weekly benefit amount and for not more than  | 
| 271 | 52 weeks that immediately follow that week, as determined by the  | 
| 272 | agency in each case according to the circumstances in each case  | 
| 273 | or the seriousness of the misconduct, under the agency's rules  | 
| 274 | adopted for determinations of disqualification for benefits for  | 
| 275 | misconduct. | 
| 276 |      3.  If an individual has provided notification to the  | 
| 277 | employing unit of his or her intent to voluntarily leave work  | 
| 278 | and the employing unit discharges the individual for reasons  | 
| 279 | other than misconduct before the date the voluntary quit was to  | 
| 280 | take effect, the individual, if otherwise entitled, shall  | 
| 281 | receive benefits from the date of the employer's discharge until  | 
| 282 | the effective date of his or her voluntary quit. | 
| 283 |      4.  If an individual is notified by the employing unit of  | 
| 284 | the employer's intent to discharge the individual for reasons  | 
| 285 | other than misconduct and the individual quits without good  | 
| 286 | cause, as defined in this section, before the date the discharge  | 
| 287 | was to take effect, the claimant is ineligible for benefits  | 
| 288 | pursuant to s. 443.091(1)(d) for failing to be available for  | 
| 289 | work for the week or weeks of unemployment occurring before the  | 
| 290 | effective date of the discharge. | 
| 291 |      (2)  If the Agency for Workforce Innovation finds that the  | 
| 292 | individual has failed without good cause to actively seek work,  | 
| 293 | apply for available suitable work when directed by the agency or  | 
| 294 | the one-stop career center, to accept suitable work when offered  | 
| 295 | to him or her, or to return to the individual's customary self- | 
| 296 | employment when directed by the agency, the disqualification  | 
| 297 | continues for the full period of unemployment next ensuing after  | 
| 298 | he or she failed without good cause to actively seek work, apply  | 
| 299 | for available suitable work, to accept suitable work, or to  | 
| 300 | return to his or her customary self-employment, under this  | 
| 301 | subsection, and until the individual has earned income at least  | 
| 302 | 17 times his or her weekly benefit amount. The Agency for  | 
| 303 | Workforce Innovation shall by rule adopt criteria for  | 
| 304 | determining the "suitability of work," as used in this section.  | 
| 305 | The Agency for Workforce Innovation in developing these rules  | 
| 306 | shall consider the duration of a claimant's unemployment in  | 
| 307 | determining the suitability of work and the suitability of  | 
| 308 | proposed rates of compensation for available work. Further,  | 
| 309 | after an individual has received 19 25 weeks of benefits in a  | 
| 310 | single year, suitable work is a job that pays the minimum wage  | 
| 311 | and is 120 percent or more of the weekly benefit amount the  | 
| 312 | individual is drawing. | 
| 313 |      (a)  In determining whether or not any work is suitable for  | 
| 314 | an individual, the Agency for Workforce Innovation shall  | 
| 315 | consider the degree of risk involved to his or her health,  | 
| 316 | safety, and morals; his or her physical fitness and prior  | 
| 317 | training; the individual's experience and prior earnings; his or  | 
| 318 | her length of unemployment and prospects for securing local work  | 
| 319 | in his or her customary occupation; and the distance of the  | 
| 320 | available work from his or her residence. | 
| 321 |      (b)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter,  | 
| 322 | work is not deemed suitable and benefits may not be denied under  | 
| 323 | this chapter to any otherwise eligible individual for refusing  | 
| 324 | to accept new work under any of the following conditions: | 
| 325 |      1.  If the position offered is vacant due directly to a  | 
| 326 | strike, lockout, or other labor dispute. | 
| 327 |      2.  If the wages, hours, or other conditions of the work  | 
| 328 | offered are substantially less favorable to the individual than  | 
| 329 | those prevailing for similar work in the locality. | 
| 330 |      3.  If as a condition of being employed, the individual  | 
| 331 | would be required to join a company union or to resign from or  | 
| 332 | refrain from joining any bona fide labor organization. | 
| 333 |      (c)  If the Agency for Workforce Innovation finds that an  | 
| 334 | individual was rejected for offered employment as the direct  | 
| 335 | result of a positive, confirmed drug test required as a  | 
| 336 | condition of employment, the individual is disqualified for  | 
| 337 | refusing to accept an offer of suitable work. | 
| 338 |      (3)  For any week with respect to which he or she is  | 
| 339 | receiving or has received remuneration in the form of: | 
| 340 |      (a)  Wages in lieu of notice. | 
| 341 |      (b)  Severance pay. The number of weeks that an  | 
| 342 | individual's severance pay disqualifies the individual is equal  | 
| 343 | to the amount of the severance pay divided by that individual's  | 
| 344 | average weekly wage received from the employer that paid the  | 
| 345 | severance pay, rounded down to the nearest whole number,  | 
| 346 | beginning with the week the individual is separated from  | 
| 347 | employment. | 
| 348 |      (c)(b)1.  Compensation for temporary total disability or  | 
| 349 | permanent total disability under the workers' compensation law  | 
| 350 | of any state or under a similar law of the United States. | 
| 351 | 
  | 
| 352 | 2.  However, If the remuneration referred to in this subsection  | 
| 353 | paragraphs (a) and (b) is less than the benefits that would  | 
| 354 | otherwise be due under this chapter, an individual who is  | 
| 355 | otherwise eligible he or she is entitled to receive for that  | 
| 356 | week, if otherwise eligible, benefits reduced by the amount of  | 
| 357 | the remuneration. | 
| 358 |      (9)  If the individual was terminated from his or her work  | 
| 359 | for violation of any criminal law punishable by imprisonment, or  | 
| 360 | for any dishonest act, in connection with his or her work, as  | 
| 361 | follows: | 
| 362 |      (a)  If the Agency for Workforce Innovation or the  | 
| 363 | Unemployment Appeals Commission finds that the individual was  | 
| 364 | terminated from his or her work for violation of any criminal  | 
| 365 | law, under any jurisdiction, which was punishable by  | 
| 366 | imprisonment in connection with his or her work, and the  | 
| 367 | individual was convicted found guilty of the offense, made an  | 
| 368 | admission of guilt in a court of law, or entered a plea of  | 
| 369 | guilty or nolo contendere no contest, the individual is not  | 
| 370 | entitled to unemployment benefits for up to 52 weeks, pursuant  | 
| 371 | to under rules adopted by the agency for Workforce Innovation,  | 
| 372 | and until he or she has earned income of at least 17 times his  | 
| 373 | or her weekly benefit amount. If, before an adjudication of  | 
| 374 | guilt, an admission of guilt, or a plea of nolo contendere no  | 
| 375 | contest, the employer proves by competent substantial evidence  | 
| 376 | to shows the agency for Workforce Innovation that the arrest was  | 
| 377 | due to a crime against the employer or the employer's business,  | 
| 378 | customers, or invitees and, after considering all the evidence,  | 
| 379 | the Agency for Workforce Innovation finds misconduct in  | 
| 380 | connection with the individual's work, the individual is not  | 
| 381 | entitled to unemployment benefits. | 
| 382 |      (b)  If the Agency for Workforce Innovation or the  | 
| 383 | Unemployment Appeals Commission finds that the individual was  | 
| 384 | terminated from work for any dishonest act in connection with  | 
| 385 | his or her work, the individual is not entitled to unemployment  | 
| 386 | benefits for up to 52 weeks, under rules adopted by the Agency  | 
| 387 | for Workforce Innovation, and until he or she has earned income  | 
| 388 | of at least 17 times his or her weekly benefit amount. In  | 
| 389 | addition, if the employer terminates an individual as a result  | 
| 390 | of a dishonest act in connection with his or her work and the  | 
| 391 | Agency for Workforce Innovation finds misconduct in connection  | 
| 392 | with his or her work, the individual is not entitled to  | 
| 393 | unemployment benefits. | 
| 394 | 
  | 
| 395 | With respect to an individual disqualified for benefits, the  | 
| 396 | account of the terminating employer, if the employer is in the  | 
| 397 | base period, is noncharged at the time the disqualification is  | 
| 398 | imposed. | 
| 399 |      (12)  For any week in which the individual is unavailable  | 
| 400 | for work due to incarceration or imprisonment. | 
| 401 |      Section 8.  Effective August 1, 2011, subsection (5) of  | 
| 402 | section 443.111, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 403 |      443.111  Payment of benefits.- | 
| 404 |      (5)  DURATION OF BENEFITS.- | 
| 405 |      (a)  As used in this section, the term "Florida average  | 
| 406 | unemployment rate" means the average of the three months for the  | 
| 407 | most recent third calendar year quarter of the seasonally  | 
| 408 | adjusted statewide unemployment rates as published by the Agency  | 
| 409 | for Workforce Innovation. | 
| 410 |      (b)1.  Each otherwise eligible individual is entitled  | 
| 411 | during any benefit year to a total amount of benefits equal to  | 
| 412 | 25 percent of the total wages in his or her base period, not to  | 
| 413 | exceed $5,500 or the product arrived at by multiplying the  | 
| 414 | weekly benefit amount with the number of weeks determined in  | 
| 415 | paragraph (c), whichever is less $7,150. However, the total  | 
| 416 | amount of benefits, if not a multiple of $1, is rounded downward  | 
| 417 | to the nearest full dollar amount. These benefits are payable at  | 
| 418 | a weekly rate no greater than the weekly benefit amount. | 
| 419 |      (c)  For claims submitted during a calendar year, the  | 
| 420 | duration of benefits is limited to: | 
| 421 |      1.  12 weeks if the Florida average unemployment rate is at  | 
| 422 | or below 5 percent. | 
| 423 |      2.  An additional week in addition to the 12 weeks for each  | 
| 424 | 0.5 percent increment in the Florida average unemployment rate  | 
| 425 | above 5 percent. | 
| 426 |      3.  Up to a maximum of 20 weeks if the Florida average  | 
| 427 | unemployment rate equals or exceeds 9 percent. | 
| 428 |      (d)2.  For the purposes of this subsection, wages are  | 
| 429 | counted as "wages for insured work" for benefit purposes with  | 
| 430 | respect to any benefit year only if the benefit year begins  | 
| 431 | after the date the employing unit by whom the wages were paid  | 
| 432 | has satisfied the conditions of this chapter for becoming an  | 
| 433 | employer. | 
| 434 |      (e)(b)  If the remuneration of an individual is not based  | 
| 435 | upon a fixed period or duration of time or if the individual's  | 
| 436 | wages are paid at irregular intervals or in a manner that does  | 
| 437 | not extend regularly over the period of employment, the wages  | 
| 438 | for any week or for any calendar quarter for the purpose of  | 
| 439 | computing an individual's right to employment benefits only are  | 
| 440 | determined in the manner prescribed by rule. These rules, to the  | 
| 441 | extent practicable, must secure results reasonably similar to  | 
| 442 | those that would prevail if the individual were paid her or his  | 
| 443 | wages at regular intervals. | 
| 444 |      Section 9.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (13) of section  | 
| 445 | 443.1216, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: | 
| 446 |      443.1216  Employment.-Employment, as defined in s. 443.036,  | 
| 447 | is subject to this chapter under the following conditions: | 
| 448 |      (13)  The following are exempt from coverage under this  | 
| 449 | chapter: | 
| 450 |      (f)  Service performed in the employ of a public employer  | 
| 451 | as defined in s. 443.036, except as provided in subsection (2),  | 
| 452 | and service performed in the employ of an instrumentality of a  | 
| 453 | public employer as described in s. 443.036(37)(35)(b) or (c), to  | 
| 454 | the extent that the instrumentality is immune under the United  | 
| 455 | States Constitution from the tax imposed by s. 3301 of the  | 
| 456 | Internal Revenue Code for that service. | 
| 457 |      Section 10.  Effective upon this act becoming a law and  | 
| 458 | retroactive to June 30, 2010, for tax rates effective on or  | 
| 459 | after January 1, 2011, paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (3)  | 
| 460 | of section 443.131, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: | 
| 461 |      443.131  Contributions.- | 
| 462 |      (3)  VARIATION OF CONTRIBUTION RATES BASED ON BENEFIT  | 
| 463 | EXPERIENCE.- | 
| 464 |      (b)  Benefit ratio.- | 
| 465 |      1.  As used in this paragraph, the term "annual payroll"  | 
| 466 | means the calendar quarter taxable payroll reported to the tax  | 
| 467 | collection service provider for the quarters used in computing  | 
| 468 | the benefit ratio. The term does not include a penalty resulting  | 
| 469 | from the untimely filing of required wage and tax reports. All  | 
| 470 | of the taxable payroll reported to the tax collection service  | 
| 471 | provider by the end of the quarter preceding the quarter for  | 
| 472 | which the contribution rate is to be computed must be used in  | 
| 473 | the computation. | 
| 474 |      2.  As used in this paragraph, the term "benefits charged  | 
| 475 | to the employer's employment record" means the amount of  | 
| 476 | benefits paid to individuals multiplied by: | 
| 477 |      a.  1.0 for benefits paid prior to July 1, 2007. | 
| 478 |      b.  0.9 for benefits paid during the period beginning on  | 
| 479 | July 1, 2007, and ending March 31, 2011. | 
| 480 |      c.  1.0 for benefits paid after March 31, 2011. | 
| 481 |      3.2.  For each calendar year, the tax collection service  | 
| 482 | provider shall compute a benefit ratio for each employer whose  | 
| 483 | employment record was chargeable for benefits during the 12  | 
| 484 | consecutive quarters ending June 30 of the calendar year  | 
| 485 | preceding the calendar year for which the benefit ratio is  | 
| 486 | computed. An employer's benefit ratio is the quotient obtained  | 
| 487 | by dividing the total benefits charged to the employer's  | 
| 488 | employment record during the 3-year period ending June 30 of the  | 
| 489 | preceding calendar year by the total of the employer's annual  | 
| 490 | payroll for the 3-year period ending June 30 of the preceding  | 
| 491 | calendar year. The benefit ratio shall be computed to the fifth  | 
| 492 | decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place. | 
| 493 |      4.3.  The tax collection service provider shall compute a  | 
| 494 | benefit ratio for each employer who was not previously eligible  | 
| 495 | under subparagraph 3. 2., whose contribution rate is set at the  | 
| 496 | initial contribution rate in paragraph (2)(a), and whose  | 
| 497 | employment record was chargeable for benefits during at least 8  | 
| 498 | calendar quarters immediately preceding the calendar quarter for  | 
| 499 | which the benefit ratio is computed. The employer's benefit  | 
| 500 | ratio is the quotient obtained by dividing the total benefits  | 
| 501 | charged to the employer's employment record during the first 6  | 
| 502 | of the 8 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the  | 
| 503 | calendar quarter for which the benefit ratio is computed by the  | 
| 504 | total of the employer's annual payroll during the first 7 of the  | 
| 505 | 9 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the calendar  | 
| 506 | quarter for which the benefit ratio is computed. The benefit  | 
| 507 | ratio shall be computed to the fifth decimal place and rounded  | 
| 508 | to the fourth decimal place and applies for the remainder of the  | 
| 509 | calendar year. The employer must subsequently be rated on an  | 
| 510 | annual basis using up to 12 calendar quarters of benefits  | 
| 511 | charged and up to 12 calendar quarters of annual payroll. That  | 
| 512 | employer's benefit ratio is the quotient obtained by dividing  | 
| 513 | the total benefits charged to the employer's employment record  | 
| 514 | by the total of the employer's annual payroll during the  | 
| 515 | quarters used in his or her first computation plus the  | 
| 516 | subsequent quarters reported through June 30 of the preceding  | 
| 517 | calendar year. Each subsequent calendar year, the rate shall be  | 
| 518 | computed under subparagraph 3. 2. The tax collection service  | 
| 519 | provider shall assign a variation from the standard rate of  | 
| 520 | contributions in paragraph (c) on a quarterly basis to each  | 
| 521 | eligible employer in the same manner as an assignment for a  | 
| 522 | calendar year under paragraph (e). | 
| 523 |      (e)  Assignment of variations from the standard rate.- | 
| 524 |      1.  As used in this paragraph, the terms "total benefit  | 
| 525 | payments," "benefits paid to an individual," and "benefits  | 
| 526 | charged to the employment record of an employer" mean the amount  | 
| 527 | of benefits paid to individuals multiplied by: | 
| 528 |      a.  1.0 for benefits paid prior to July 1, 2007. | 
| 529 |      b.  0.9 for benefits paid during the period beginning on  | 
| 530 | July 1, 2007, and ending March 31, 2011. | 
| 531 |      c.  1.0 for benefits paid after March 31, 2011. | 
| 532 |      2.  For the calculation of contribution rates effective  | 
| 533 | January 1, 2010, and thereafter: | 
| 534 |      a.1.  The tax collection service provider shall assign a  | 
| 535 | variation from the standard rate of contributions for each  | 
| 536 | calendar year to each eligible employer. In determining the  | 
| 537 | contribution rate, varying from the standard rate to be assigned  | 
| 538 | each employer, adjustment factors computed under sub-sub- | 
| 539 | subparagraphs (I)-(IV) sub-subparagraphs a.-d. are added to the  | 
| 540 | benefit ratio. This addition shall be accomplished in two steps  | 
| 541 | by adding a variable adjustment factor and a final adjustment  | 
| 542 | factor. The sum of these adjustment factors computed under sub- | 
| 543 | sub-subparagraphs (I)-(IV) sub-subparagraphs a.-d. shall first  | 
| 544 | be algebraically summed. The sum of these adjustment factors  | 
| 545 | shall next be divided by a gross benefit ratio determined as  | 
| 546 | follows: Total benefit payments for the 3-year period described  | 
| 547 | in subparagraph (b)3. (b)2. are charged to employers eligible  | 
| 548 | for a variation from the standard rate, minus excess payments  | 
| 549 | for the same period, divided by taxable payroll entering into  | 
| 550 | the computation of individual benefit ratios for the calendar  | 
| 551 | year for which the contribution rate is being computed. The  | 
| 552 | ratio of the sum of the adjustment factors computed under sub- | 
| 553 | sub-subparagraphs (I)-(IV) sub-subparagraphs a.-d. to the gross  | 
| 554 | benefit ratio is multiplied by each individual benefit ratio  | 
| 555 | that is less than the maximum contribution rate to obtain  | 
| 556 | variable adjustment factors; except that if the sum of an  | 
| 557 | employer's individual benefit ratio and variable adjustment  | 
| 558 | factor exceeds the maximum contribution rate, the variable  | 
| 559 | adjustment factor is reduced in order for the sum to equal the  | 
| 560 | maximum contribution rate. The variable adjustment factor for  | 
| 561 | each of these employers is multiplied by his or her taxable  | 
| 562 | payroll entering into the computation of his or her benefit  | 
| 563 | ratio. The sum of these products is divided by the taxable  | 
| 564 | payroll of the employers who entered into the computation of  | 
| 565 | their benefit ratios. The resulting ratio is subtracted from the  | 
| 566 | sum of the adjustment factors computed under sub-sub- | 
| 567 | subparagraphs (I)-(IV) sub-subparagraphs a.-d. to obtain the  | 
| 568 | final adjustment factor. The variable adjustment factors and the  | 
| 569 | final adjustment factor must be computed to five decimal places  | 
| 570 | and rounded to the fourth decimal place. This final adjustment  | 
| 571 | factor is added to the variable adjustment factor and benefit  | 
| 572 | ratio of each employer to obtain each employer's contribution  | 
| 573 | rate. An employer's contribution rate may not, however, be  | 
| 574 | rounded to less than 0.1 percent. | 
| 575 |      (I)a.  An adjustment factor for noncharge benefits is  | 
| 576 | computed to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth  | 
| 577 | decimal place by dividing the amount of noncharge benefits  | 
| 578 | during the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)3. (b)2.  | 
| 579 | by the taxable payroll of employers eligible for a variation  | 
| 580 | from the standard rate who have a benefit ratio for the current  | 
| 581 | year which is less than the maximum contribution rate. For  | 
| 582 | purposes of computing this adjustment factor, the taxable  | 
| 583 | payroll of these employers is the taxable payrolls for the 3  | 
| 584 | years ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to  | 
| 585 | the tax collection service provider by September 30 of the same  | 
| 586 | calendar year. As used in this sub-sub-subparagraph sub- | 
| 587 | subparagraph, the term "noncharge benefits" means benefits paid  | 
| 588 | to an individual from the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund,  | 
| 589 | but which were not charged to the employment record of any  | 
| 590 | employer. | 
| 591 |      (II)b.  An adjustment factor for excess payments is  | 
| 592 | computed to the fifth decimal place, and rounded to the fourth  | 
| 593 | decimal place by dividing the total excess payments during the  | 
| 594 | 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)3. (b)2. by the  | 
| 595 | taxable payroll of employers eligible for a variation from the  | 
| 596 | standard rate who have a benefit ratio for the current year  | 
| 597 | which is less than the maximum contribution rate. For purposes  | 
| 598 | of computing this adjustment factor, the taxable payroll of  | 
| 599 | these employers is the same figure used to compute the  | 
| 600 | adjustment factor for noncharge benefits under sub-sub- | 
| 601 | subparagraph (I) sub-subparagraph a. As used in this sub- | 
| 602 | subparagraph, the term "excess payments" means the amount of  | 
| 603 | benefits charged to the employment record of an employer during  | 
| 604 | the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)3. (b)2., less  | 
| 605 | the product of the maximum contribution rate and the employer's  | 
| 606 | taxable payroll for the 3 years ending June 30 of the current  | 
| 607 | calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider  | 
| 608 | by September 30 of the same calendar year. As used in this sub- | 
| 609 | sub-subparagraph sub-subparagraph, the term "total excess  | 
| 610 | payments" means the sum of the individual employer excess  | 
| 611 | payments for those employers that were eligible for assignment  | 
| 612 | of a contribution rate different from the standard rate. | 
| 613 |      (III)c.  With respect to computing a positive adjustment  | 
| 614 | factor: | 
| 615 |      (A)(I)  Beginning January 1, 2012, if the balance of the  | 
| 616 | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund on September 30 of the  | 
| 617 | calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which  | 
| 618 | the contribution rate is being computed is less than 4 percent  | 
| 619 | of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 as reported  | 
| 620 | to the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that  | 
| 621 | calendar year, a positive adjustment factor shall be computed.  | 
| 622 | The positive adjustment factor is computed annually to the fifth  | 
| 623 | decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by  | 
| 624 | dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year  | 
| 625 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the  | 
| 626 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar  | 
| 627 | year into a sum equal to one-third of the difference between the  | 
| 628 | balance of the fund as of September 30 of that calendar year and  | 
| 629 | the sum of 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls for that  | 
| 630 | year. The positive adjustment factor remains in effect for  | 
| 631 | subsequent years until the balance of the Unemployment  | 
| 632 | Compensation Trust Fund as of September 30 of the year  | 
| 633 | immediately preceding the effective date of the contribution  | 
| 634 | rate equals or exceeds 5 percent of the taxable payrolls for the  | 
| 635 | year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to  | 
| 636 | the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that  | 
| 637 | calendar year. | 
| 638 |      (B)(II)  Beginning January 1, 2015, and for each year  | 
| 639 | thereafter, the positive adjustment shall be computed by  | 
| 640 | dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year  | 
| 641 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the  | 
| 642 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar  | 
| 643 | year into a sum equal to one-fourth of the difference between  | 
| 644 | the balance of the fund as of September 30 of that calendar year  | 
| 645 | and the sum of 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls for that  | 
| 646 | year. The positive adjustment factor remains in effect for  | 
| 647 | subsequent years until the balance of the Unemployment  | 
| 648 | Compensation Trust Fund as of September 30 of the year  | 
| 649 | immediately preceding the effective date of the contribution  | 
| 650 | rate equals or exceeds 4 percent of the taxable payrolls for the  | 
| 651 | year ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to  | 
| 652 | the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that  | 
| 653 | calendar year. | 
| 654 |      (IV)d.  If, beginning January 1, 2015, and each year  | 
| 655 | thereafter, the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust  | 
| 656 | Fund as of September 30 of the year immediately preceding the  | 
| 657 | calendar year for which the contribution rate is being computed  | 
| 658 | exceeds 5 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending  | 
| 659 | June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax  | 
| 660 | collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar  | 
| 661 | year, a negative adjustment factor must be computed. The  | 
| 662 | negative adjustment factor shall be computed annually beginning  | 
| 663 | on January 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, to the fifth  | 
| 664 | decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by  | 
| 665 | dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year  | 
| 666 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the  | 
| 667 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of the calendar  | 
| 668 | year into a sum equal to one-fourth of the difference between  | 
| 669 | the balance of the fund as of September 30 of the current  | 
| 670 | calendar year and 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls of  | 
| 671 | that year. The negative adjustment factor remains in effect for  | 
| 672 | subsequent years until the balance of the Unemployment  | 
| 673 | Compensation Trust Fund as of September 30 of the year  | 
| 674 | immediately preceding the effective date of the contribution  | 
| 675 | rate is less than 5 percent, but more than 4 percent of the  | 
| 676 | taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current  | 
| 677 | calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider  | 
| 678 | by September 30 of that calendar year. The negative adjustment  | 
| 679 | authorized by this section is suspended in any calendar year in  | 
| 680 | which repayment of the principal amount of an advance received  | 
| 681 | from the federal Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund under 42  | 
| 682 | U.S.C. s. 1321 is due to the Federal Government. | 
| 683 |      (V)e.  The maximum contribution rate that may be assigned  | 
| 684 | to an employer is 5.4 percent, except employers participating in  | 
| 685 | an approved short-time compensation plan may be assigned a  | 
| 686 | maximum contribution rate that is 1 percent greater than the  | 
| 687 | maximum contribution rate for other employers in any calendar  | 
| 688 | year in which short-time compensation benefits are charged to  | 
| 689 | the employer's employment record. | 
| 690 |      (VI)f.  As used in this subsection, "taxable payroll" shall  | 
| 691 | be determined by excluding any part of the remuneration paid to  | 
| 692 | an individual by an employer for employment during a calendar  | 
| 693 | year in excess of the first $7,000. Beginning January 1, 2012,  | 
| 694 | "taxable payroll" shall be determined by excluding any part of  | 
| 695 | the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for  | 
| 696 | employment during a calendar year as described in s.  | 
| 697 | 443.1217(2). For the purposes of the employer rate calculation  | 
| 698 | that will take effect in January 1, 2012, and in January 1,  | 
| 699 | 2013, the tax collection service provider shall use the data  | 
| 700 | available for taxable payroll from 2009 based on excluding any  | 
| 701 | part of the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer  | 
| 702 | for employment during a calendar year in excess of the first  | 
| 703 | $7,000, and from 2010 and 2011, the data available for taxable  | 
| 704 | payroll based on excluding any part of the remuneration paid to  | 
| 705 | an individual by an employer for employment during a calendar  | 
| 706 | year in excess of the first $8,500. | 
| 707 |      b.2.  If the transfer of an employer's employment record to  | 
| 708 | an employing unit under paragraph (f) which, before the  | 
| 709 | transfer, was an employer, the tax collection service provider  | 
| 710 | shall recompute a benefit ratio for the successor employer based  | 
| 711 | on the combined employment records and reassign an appropriate  | 
| 712 | contribution rate to the successor employer effective on the  | 
| 713 | first day of the calendar quarter immediately after the  | 
| 714 | effective date of the transfer. | 
| 715 |      Section 11.  Present paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of  | 
| 716 | section 443.141, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph  | 
| 717 | (g), and new paragraph (f) is added to that subsection to read: | 
| 718 |      443.141  Collection of contributions and reimbursements.- | 
| 719 |      (1)  PAST DUE CONTRIBUTIONS AND REIMBURSEMENTS; DELINQUENT,  | 
| 720 | ERRONEOUS, INCOMPLETE, OR INSUFFICIENT REPORTS.- | 
| 721 |      (f)  Payments for 2012, 2013, and 2014 Contributions.-For  | 
| 722 | an annual administrative fee not to exceed $5, a contributing  | 
| 723 | employer may pay its quarterly contributions due for wages paid  | 
| 724 | in the first three quarters of 2012, 2013, and 2014 in equal  | 
| 725 | installments if those contributions are paid as follows: | 
| 726 |      1.  For contributions due for wages paid in the first  | 
| 727 | quarter of each year, one-fourth of the contributions due must  | 
| 728 | be paid on or before April 30, one-fourth must be paid on or  | 
| 729 | before July 31, one-fourth must be paid on or before October 31,  | 
| 730 | and one-fourth must be paid on or before December 31. | 
| 731 |      2.  In addition to the payments specified in subparagraph  | 
| 732 | 1., for contributions due for wages paid in the second quarter  | 
| 733 | of each year, one-third of the contributions due must be paid on  | 
| 734 | or before July 31, one-third must be paid on or before October  | 
| 735 | 31, and one-third must be paid on or before December 31. | 
| 736 |      3.  In addition to the payments specified in subparagraphs  | 
| 737 | 1. and 2., for contributions due for wages paid in the third  | 
| 738 | quarter of each year, one-half of the contributions due must be  | 
| 739 | paid on or before October 31, and one-half must be paid on or  | 
| 740 | before December 31. | 
| 741 |      4.  The annual administrative fee assessed for electing to  | 
| 742 | pay under the installment method shall be collected at the time  | 
| 743 | the employer makes the first installment payment each year. The  | 
| 744 | fee shall be segregated from the payment and deposited into the  | 
| 745 | Operating Trust Fund of the Department of Revenue. | 
| 746 |      5.  Interest does not accrue on any contribution that  | 
| 747 | becomes due for wages paid in the first three quarters of each  | 
| 748 | year if the employer pays the contribution in accordance with  | 
| 749 | subparagraphs 1.-4. Interest and fees continue to accrue on  | 
| 750 | prior delinquent contributions and commence accruing on all  | 
| 751 | contributions due for wages paid in the first three quarters of  | 
| 752 | each year which are not paid in accordance with subparagraphs  | 
| 753 | 1.-3. Penalties may be assessed in accordance with this chapter.  | 
| 754 | The contributions due for wages paid in the fourth quarter of  | 
| 755 | 2012, 2013, and 2014 are not affected by this paragraph and are  | 
| 756 | due and payable in accordance with this chapter. | 
| 757 |      Section 12.  Paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (3) and  | 
| 758 | paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (4) of section 443.151,  | 
| 759 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: | 
| 760 |      443.151  Procedure concerning claims.- | 
| 761 |      (3)  DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY.- | 
| 762 |      (b)  Monetary determinations.-In addition to the notice of  | 
| 763 | claim, the Agency for Workforce Innovation must shall also  | 
| 764 | promptly provide an initial monetary determination to the  | 
| 765 | claimant and each base period employer whose account is subject  | 
| 766 | to being charged for its respective share of benefits on the  | 
| 767 | claim. The monetary determination must include a statement of  | 
| 768 | whether and in what amount the claimant is entitled to benefits,  | 
| 769 | and, in the event of a denial, must state the reasons for the  | 
| 770 | denial. A monetary determination for the first week of a benefit  | 
| 771 | year must also include a statement of whether the claimant was  | 
| 772 | paid the wages required under s. 443.091(1)(g) and, if so, the  | 
| 773 | first day of the benefit year, the claimant's weekly benefit  | 
| 774 | amount, and the maximum total amount of benefits payable to the  | 
| 775 | claimant for a benefit year. The monetary determination is final  | 
| 776 | unless within 20 days after the mailing of the notices to the  | 
| 777 | parties' last known addresses, or in lieu of mailing, within 20  | 
| 778 | days after the delivery of the notices, an appeal or written  | 
| 779 | request for reconsideration is filed by the claimant or other  | 
| 780 | party entitled to notice. The agency may adopt rules as  | 
| 781 | necessary to implement the processes described in this paragraph  | 
| 782 | relating to notices of monetary determinations and the appeals  | 
| 783 | or reconsideration requests filed in response to such notices. | 
| 784 |      (d)  Determinations in labor dispute cases.-If a Whenever  | 
| 785 | any claim involves a labor dispute described in s. 443.101(4),  | 
| 786 | the Agency for Workforce Innovation shall promptly assign the  | 
| 787 | claim to a special examiner who shall make a determination on  | 
| 788 | the issues involving unemployment due to the labor dispute. The  | 
| 789 | special examiner shall make the determination after an  | 
| 790 | investigation, as necessary. The claimant or another party  | 
| 791 | entitled to notice of the determination may appeal a  | 
| 792 | determination under subsection (4). | 
| 793 |      (4)  APPEALS.- | 
| 794 |      (b)  Filing and hearing.- | 
| 795 |      1.  The claimant or any other party entitled to notice of a  | 
| 796 | determination may appeal an adverse determination to an appeals  | 
| 797 | referee within 20 days after the date of mailing of the notice  | 
| 798 | to her or his last known address or, if the notice is not  | 
| 799 | mailed, within 20 days after the date of delivery of the notice. | 
| 800 |      2.  Unless the appeal is untimely or withdrawn or review is  | 
| 801 | initiated by the commission, the appeals referee, after mailing  | 
| 802 | all parties and attorneys of record a notice of hearing at least  | 
| 803 | 10 days before the date of hearing, notwithstanding the 14-day  | 
| 804 | notice requirement in s. 120.569(2)(b), may only affirm, modify,  | 
| 805 | or reverse the determination. An appeal may not be withdrawn  | 
| 806 | without the permission of the appeals referee. | 
| 807 |      3.  However, when an appeal appears to have been filed  | 
| 808 | after the permissible time limit, the Office of Appeals may  | 
| 809 | issue an order to show cause to the appellant, requiring the  | 
| 810 | appellant to show why the appeal should not be dismissed as  | 
| 811 | untimely. If the appellant does not, within 15 days after the  | 
| 812 | mailing date of the order to show cause, provide written  | 
| 813 | evidence of timely filing or good cause for failure to appeal  | 
| 814 | timely, the appeal shall be dismissed. | 
| 815 |      4.  When an appeal involves a question of whether services  | 
| 816 | were performed by a claimant in employment or for an employer,  | 
| 817 | the referee must give special notice of the question and of the  | 
| 818 | pendency of the appeal to the employing unit and to the Agency  | 
| 819 | for Workforce Innovation, both of which become parties to the  | 
| 820 | proceeding. | 
| 821 |      5.a.  Any part of the evidence may be received in written  | 
| 822 | form, and all testimony of parties and witnesses shall be made  | 
| 823 | under oath. | 
| 824 |      b.  Irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence  | 
| 825 | shall be excluded, but all other evidence of a type commonly  | 
| 826 | relied upon by reasonably prudent persons in the conduct of  | 
| 827 | their affairs shall be admissible, whether or not such evidence  | 
| 828 | would be admissible in a trial in the courts of the state. | 
| 829 |      c.  Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of  | 
| 830 | supplementing or explaining other evidence, or to support a  | 
| 831 | finding if it would be admissible over objection in civil  | 
| 832 | actions. Notwithstanding s. 120.57(1)(c), hearsay evidence may  | 
| 833 | support a finding of fact if: | 
| 834 |      (I)  The party against whom it is offered has a reasonable  | 
| 835 | opportunity to review such evidence prior to the hearing; and | 
| 836 |      (II)  The appeals referee or special deputy determines,  | 
| 837 | after considering all relevant facts and circumstances, that the  | 
| 838 | evidence is trustworthy and probative and that the interests of  | 
| 839 | justice will best be served by its admission into evidence. | 
| 840 |      6.5.  The parties must be notified promptly of the  | 
| 841 | referee's decision. The referee's decision is final unless  | 
| 842 | further review is initiated under paragraph (c) within 20 days  | 
| 843 | after the date of mailing notice of the decision to the party's  | 
| 844 | last known address or, in lieu of mailing, within 20 days after  | 
| 845 | the delivery of the notice. | 
| 846 |      (e)  Judicial review.-Orders of the commission entered  | 
| 847 | under paragraph (c) are subject to review only by notice of  | 
| 848 | appeal in the district court of appeal in the appellate district  | 
| 849 | in which a claimant resides or the job separation arose or in  | 
| 850 | the appellate district where the order was issued the issues  | 
| 851 | involved were decided by an appeals referee. However, if the  | 
| 852 | notice of appeal is filed solely with the commission, the appeal  | 
| 853 | shall be filed in the district court of appeal in the appellate  | 
| 854 | district in which the order was issued. Notwithstanding chapter  | 
| 855 | 120, the commission is a party respondent to every such  | 
| 856 | proceeding. The Agency for Workforce Innovation may initiate  | 
| 857 | judicial review of orders in the same manner and to the same  | 
| 858 | extent as any other party. | 
| 859 |      Section 13.  Section (10) is added to section 443.171,  | 
| 860 | Florida Statutes, to read: | 
| 861 |      443.171  Agency for Workforce Innovation and commission;  | 
| 862 | powers and duties; records and reports; proceedings; state- | 
| 863 | federal cooperation.- | 
| 864 |      (10)  EVIDENCE OF MAILING.-The existence of a mailing date  | 
| 865 | on any notice, determination, decision, order, or other document  | 
| 866 | mailed by the Agency for Workforce Innovation or its tax  | 
| 867 | collection service provider pursuant to this chapter creates a  | 
| 868 | rebuttable presumption that such notice, determination, order,  | 
| 869 | or other document was mailed on the date indicated. | 
| 870 |      Section 14.  Notwithstanding the expiration date contained  | 
| 871 | in section 1 of chapter 2010-90, Laws of Florida, operating  | 
| 872 | retroactive to June 2, 2010, and expiring January 4, 2012,  | 
| 873 | section 443.1117, Florida Statutes, is revived, readopted, and  | 
| 874 | amended to read: | 
| 875 |      443.1117  Temporary extended benefits.- | 
| 876 |      (1)  APPLICABILITY OF EXTENDED BENEFITS STATUTE.-Except if  | 
| 877 | the result is inconsistent with other provisions of this  | 
| 878 | section, s. 443.1115(2), (3), (4), (6), and (7) apply to all  | 
| 879 | claims covered by this section. | 
| 880 |      (2)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in For the purposes of this  | 
| 881 | section, the term: | 
| 882 |      (a)  "Regular benefits" and "extended benefits" have the  | 
| 883 | same meaning as in s. 443.1115. | 
| 884 |      (b)  "Eligibility period" means the weeks in an  | 
| 885 | individual's benefit year or emergency benefit period which  | 
| 886 | begin in an extended benefit period and, if the benefit year or  | 
| 887 | emergency benefit period ends within that extended benefit  | 
| 888 | period, any subsequent weeks beginning in that period. | 
| 889 |      (c)  "Emergency benefits" means Emergency Unemployment  | 
| 890 | Compensation paid pursuant to Pub. L. No. 110-252, Pub. L. No.  | 
| 891 | 110-449, Pub. L. No. 111-5, Pub. L. No. 111-92, Pub. L. No. 111- | 
| 892 | 118, Pub. L. No. 111-144, and Pub. L. No. 111-157, Pub. L. No.  | 
| 893 | 111-205, and Pub. L. No. 111-312. | 
| 894 |      (d)  "Extended benefit period" means a period that: | 
| 895 |      1.  Begins with the third week after a week for which there  | 
| 896 | is a state "on" indicator; and | 
| 897 |      2.  Ends with any of the following weeks, whichever occurs  | 
| 898 | later: | 
| 899 |      a.  The third week after the first week for which there is  | 
| 900 | a state "off" indicator; or | 
| 901 |      b.  The 13th consecutive week of that period. | 
| 902 | 
  | 
| 903 | However, an extended benefit period may not begin by reason of a  | 
| 904 | state "on" indicator before the 14th week after the end of a  | 
| 905 | prior extended benefit period that was in effect for this state. | 
| 906 |      (e)  "Emergency benefit period" means the period during  | 
| 907 | which an individual receives emergency benefits as defined in  | 
| 908 | paragraph (c). | 
| 909 |      (f)  "Exhaustee" means an individual who, for any week of  | 
| 910 | unemployment in her or his eligibility period: | 
| 911 |      1.  Has received, before that week, all of the regular  | 
| 912 | benefits and emergency benefits, if any, available under this  | 
| 913 | chapter or any other law, including dependents' allowances and  | 
| 914 | benefits payable to federal civilian employees and ex- | 
| 915 | servicemembers under 5 U.S.C. ss. 8501-8525, in the current  | 
| 916 | benefit year or emergency benefit period that includes that  | 
| 917 | week. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an individual has  | 
| 918 | received all of the regular benefits and emergency benefits, if  | 
| 919 | any, available even if although, as a result of a pending appeal  | 
| 920 | for wages paid for insured work which were not considered in the  | 
| 921 | original monetary determination in the benefit year, she or he  | 
| 922 | may subsequently be determined to be entitled to added regular  | 
| 923 | benefits; | 
| 924 |      2.  Had a benefit year that which expired before that week,  | 
| 925 | and was paid no, or insufficient, wages for insured work on the  | 
| 926 | basis of which she or he could establish a new benefit year that  | 
| 927 | includes that week; and | 
| 928 |      3.a.  Has no right to unemployment benefits or allowances  | 
| 929 | under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act or other federal  | 
| 930 | laws as specified in regulations issued by the United States  | 
| 931 | Secretary of Labor; and | 
| 932 |      b.  Has not received and is not seeking unemployment  | 
| 933 | benefits under the unemployment compensation law of Canada; but  | 
| 934 | if an individual is seeking those benefits and the appropriate  | 
| 935 | agency finally determines that she or he is not entitled to  | 
| 936 | benefits under that law, she or he is considered an exhaustee. | 
| 937 |      (g)  "State 'on' indicator" means, with respect to weeks of  | 
| 938 | unemployment beginning on or after February 1, 2009, and ending  | 
| 939 | on or before December 10, 2011 May 8, 2010, the occurrence of a  | 
| 940 | week in which the average total unemployment rate, seasonally  | 
| 941 | adjusted, as determined by the United States Secretary of Labor,  | 
| 942 | for the most recent 3 months for which data for all states are  | 
| 943 | published by the United States Department of Labor: | 
| 944 |      1.  Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those  | 
| 945 | rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in any or all  | 
| 946 | each of the preceding 3 2 calendar years; and | 
| 947 |      2.  Equals or exceeds 6.5 percent. | 
| 948 |      (h)  "High unemployment period" means, with respect to  | 
| 949 | weeks of unemployment beginning on or after February 1, 2009,  | 
| 950 | and ending on or before December 10, 2011 May 8, 2010, any week  | 
| 951 | in which the average total unemployment rate, seasonally  | 
| 952 | adjusted, as determined by the United States Secretary of Labor,  | 
| 953 | for the most recent 3 months for which data for all states are  | 
| 954 | published by the United States Department of Labor: | 
| 955 |      1.  Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those  | 
| 956 | rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in any or all  | 
| 957 | each of the preceding 3 2 calendar years; and | 
| 958 |      2.  Equals or exceeds 8 percent. | 
| 959 |      (i)  "State 'off' indicator" means the occurrence of a week  | 
| 960 | in which there is no state "on" indicator or which does not  | 
| 961 | constitute a high unemployment period. | 
| 962 |      (3)  TOTAL EXTENDED BENEFIT AMOUNT.-Except as provided in  | 
| 963 | subsection (4): | 
| 964 |      (a)  For any week for which there is an "on" indicator  | 
| 965 | pursuant to paragraph (2)(g), the total extended benefit amount  | 
| 966 | payable to an eligible individual for her or his applicable  | 
| 967 | benefit year is the lesser of: | 
| 968 |      1.  Fifty percent of the total regular benefits payable  | 
| 969 | under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or | 
| 970 |      2.  Thirteen times the weekly benefit amount payable under  | 
| 971 | this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable  | 
| 972 | benefit year. | 
| 973 |      (b)  For any high unemployment period, the total extended  | 
| 974 | benefit amount payable to an eligible individual for her or his  | 
| 975 | applicable benefit year is the lesser of: | 
| 976 |      1.  Eighty percent of the total regular benefits payable  | 
| 977 | under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or | 
| 978 |      2.  Twenty times the weekly benefit amount payable under  | 
| 979 | this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable  | 
| 980 | benefit year. | 
| 981 |      (4)  EFFECT ON TRADE READJUSTMENT.-Notwithstanding any  | 
| 982 | other provision of this chapter, if the benefit year of an  | 
| 983 | individual ends within an extended benefit period, the number of  | 
| 984 | weeks of extended benefits the individual is entitled to receive  | 
| 985 | in that extended benefit period for weeks of unemployment  | 
| 986 | beginning after the end of the benefit year, except as provided  | 
| 987 | in this section, is reduced, but not to below zero, by the  | 
| 988 | number of weeks for which the individual received, within that  | 
| 989 | benefit year, trade readjustment allowances under the Trade Act  | 
| 990 | of 1974, as amended. | 
| 991 |      Section 15.  If any provision of this act or its  | 
| 992 | application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the  | 
| 993 | invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of  | 
| 994 | the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision  | 
| 995 | or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are  | 
| 996 | severable. | 
| 997 |      Section 16.  The provisions of s. 443.1117, Florida  | 
| 998 | Statutes, as revived, readopted, and amended by this act, apply  | 
| 999 | only to claims for weeks of unemployment in which an exhaustee  | 
| 1000 | establishes entitlement to extended benefits pursuant to that  | 
| 1001 | section which are established for the period between December  | 
| 1002 | 17, 2010, and January 4, 2012. | 
| 1003 |      Section 17.  For the 2011-2012 fiscal year, the sum of  | 
| 1004 | $242,300 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the  | 
| 1005 | Operating Trust Fund to the Administration of Unemployment  | 
| 1006 | Compensation Tax Special Category in the Department of Revenue  | 
| 1007 | to be used to implement this act. In addition, for the 2010-2011  | 
| 1008 | fiscal year, the sum of $256,891 in nonrecurring funds is  | 
| 1009 | appropriated from the Employment Security Administration Trust  | 
| 1010 | Fund in the contracted services appropriation category to the  | 
| 1011 | Agency for Workforce Innovation to be used to contract with the  | 
| 1012 | Department of Revenue for tax-related services as required to  | 
| 1013 | implement this act. | 
| 1014 |      Section 18.  The Legislature finds that this act fulfills  | 
| 1015 | an important state interest. | 
| 1016 |      Section 19.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this  | 
| 1017 | act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |