McEntee bill saves benefits until June 2025
The legislation is sponsored by House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and the late Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin.
The bill (2023-H 5989A, 2023-S 0716aa) extends the sunset on legislation enacted two years ago to increase the wages people can earn before having their benefits reduced. Rhode Islanders are able to earn up to half of their benefit amount before having any earnings subtracted from their unemployment benefits.
Before the changes, the threshold
was 20 percent, so someone with a $300 weekly benefit starts having their wages
subtracted from it once they earn $60 a week. Under the changes, that person
can earn up to $150 without having any impact on their benefits.
The legislation, which now goes to the governor for
consideration, will help businesses recover by incentivizing part-time workers
to take additional shifts and work more hours, because they can still keep some
of their unemployment benefit.
“I introduced this bill because our small businesses are still struggling with a severe labor shortage. The changes to the unemployment system proved to be very beneficial to our small businesses and their employees and with labor shortages still posing challenges in the state, it makes sense to extend this program that keeps our small businesses open and our employees working,” said Chairwoman McEntee (D-Dist. 32, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
When she introduced similar legislation last session,
Whip Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) said, “We enacted these changes to get
Rhode Islanders back to work, and it had a positive effect at encouraging them
to pick up more hours. Given the labor shortage we are experiencing in our
state and nationwide, it makes sense … and (will) encourage Rhode Islanders who
perhaps can’t yet transition to full-time work more hours. This will put more
money in Rhode Islanders’ pockets, support families and help many small
businesses that rely on part-time employees to keep their doors open.”
The legislation passed today extends the changes to June
30, 2025.
