Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992

Summary

Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 - Title I: Extension of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program - Amends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-164, as amended) to extend the emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) program. Changes the EUC program termination date (currently July 4, 1992) to the earliest of: (1) April 1, 1993; (2) the first day of the third month after the first month (after June 1992) for which the applicable unemployment rate is less than six and one-half percent; or (3) the first day of the first month (after June 1992) for which the applicable unemployment rate is less than six percent. Makes the applicable unemployment rate for any month, for such purposes, the average rate (seasonally adjusted) of total unemployment in all States for the most recent three calendar months for which data are published before the beginning of such month. Provides for reduction of benefits during periods after December 31, 1992. Modifies EUC eligibility requirements to: (1) make a 20-week work requirement inapplicable; (2) provide that an individual is not ineligible by reason of subsequent entitlement to regular benefits; and (3) provide certain transition rules, including a waiver of recovery of certain overpayments and an option to defer rights to certain regular benefits. Title II: Modifications to Extended Benefits Program - Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 to modify trigger provisions for the extended benefits (EB) program. Provides for an EB State "on" indicator for a month if the average rate of total unemployment (seasonally adjusted) for the most recent three months for which data are published before the close of such month is: (1) six percent or more; and (2) 110 percent or more of such average rate for either (or both) of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the two preceding calendar years. (Current law uses the State insured unemployment rate, rather than the State total unemployment rate, in the trigger formula.) Provides for additional weeks of EB program benefits during high unemployment periods (when the trigger period average rate of total unemployment is eight percent or more). Repeals certain special eligibility requirements under the EB program. Increases the amount of Federal reimbursement under the EB program. Makes these amendments to the EB program effective on October 1, 1993, with certain exceptions. Title III: Modifications to Federal Unemployment Tax - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the Federal unemployment tax rate. Allows elective withholding of Federal, State, or local income taxes from unemployment compensation (under the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act). Title IV: Reemployment Assistance Programs - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an additional credit against the Federal unemployment tax for taxpayers in States with reemployment assistance programs. Title V: Modification to Regular State Unemployment Compensation Programs - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the base period under regular State unemployment compensation programs. Provides for treatment of short-time compensation programs which provide partial unemployment benefits to individuals whose workweeks have been reduced by at least ten percent. Allows State laws to provide for unemployment compensation funds to be withdrawn for the payment of such short-time compensation under a plan approved by the Secretary of Labor. Directs the Secretary of Labor to assist States in establishing and implementing short-time compensation programs by: (1) developing model legislative language and proposing appropriate revisions; and (2) providing technical assistance and guidance. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on implementation of these short-time compensation program provisions. Prohibits State laws from denying unemployment compensation to any individual by reason of the circumstances under which such individual separated from employment by any employer unless it was the individual's most recent separation from employment. Requires each employer covered under a State unemployment compensation law to: (1) post statements (prescribed by the State agency) regarding benefit rights and other matters in places readily accessible to employees; and (2) furnish to each terminated employee written statements (provided by the State agency) regarding claims for compensation. Title VI: Financing Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend by two years, through December 31, 1997, the following income tax provisions affecting high income taxpayers: (1) an overall limitation on itemized deductions; and (2) a phaseout of personal exemptions. Amends the Social Security Act to provide for transfer of revenues from income taxes on unemployment benefits to the Unemployment Trust Fund. Bases such transfers on estimates of benefit payments. Sets forth a transition rule requiring the Secretary of the Treasury, by the end of FY 1992, to transfer from the general fund of the Treasury to the Unemployment Trust Fund, for credit to the extended unemployment compensation account, an amount equal to that which would have been appropriated to the Unemployment Trust Fund for months beginning on or before enactment of this Act if such transfer amendments had been in effect for all months after December 31, 1990. Revises provisions for Federal unemployment accounts. Modifies provisions for the extended unemployment compensation account with respect to transfers, and increases the ceiling on such account. Reduces the ceiling on the Federal unemployment account. Provides for borrowing among the employment security administration account, the Federal unemployment account, and the extended unemployment compensation account. Amends specified Federal law relating to civil service employment to provide that if any Federal agency does not deposit a required amount in the Federal Employees Compensation Account for unemployment benefits within 30 days after notification by the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Labor shall notify the Secretary of the Treasury of such failure and that Secretary shall transfer such amount to such Account from amounts otherwise appropriated to such Federal agency. Title VII: Budgetary Treatment - Amends the Social Security Act to exclude the Unemployment Trust Fund (the Fund) from the unified budget, thus giving the Fund "off-budget" status (except amounts required to be deposited in the Federal Employees Compensation Account). Reduces certain discretionary spending limits for FY 1993 through 1995. Modifies certain maximum deficit amounts to provide for a decrease in FY 1993 and an increase in FY 1994 and 1995. Makes conforming amendments to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (BBEDCA) (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Provides that any amount of new budget authority, outlays, or receipts resulting from this Act shall not be considered for any purpose under BBEDCA.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 1 April 1992

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 1 April 1992

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 1 April 1992

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 2 April 1992

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security.

   Source: Committee

5. 3 April 1992

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

   Source: Committee

6. 9 April 1992

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 30 April 1992

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

8. 6 May 1992

   Committee

   Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

9. 6 May 1992

   Committee

   Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

   Source: Committee

10. 20 May 1992

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

11. 20 May 1992

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

12. 27 May 1992

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 102-536, Part I.

    Source: Committee

13. 27 May 1992

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 102-536, Part I.

    Source: Committee

14. 2 June 1992

    Committee

    See H.R.5260.

    Source: Committee

15. 3 June 1992

    Committee

    See H.R.5260.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · undated · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 27 May 1992

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 1 April 1992

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Downey, Thomas J. [D-NY-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Rostenkowski, Dan [D-IL-8] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Gephardt, Richard A. [D-MO-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Bonior, David E. [D-MI-12] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Ford, Harold E. [D-TN-8] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Pease, Donald J. [D-OH-13] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Matsui, Robert T. [D-CA-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Kennelly, Barbara B. [D-CT-1] · D · Sponsor
• SANDER LEVIN · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Green, S. William [R-NY-15] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Hubbard, Carroll, Jr. [D-KY-1] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Borski, Robert A. [D-PA-3] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-9] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Kostmayer, Peter H. [D-PA-8] · D · Cosponsor
• · hswm00 · Standing
• · hsgo00 · Standing
• · hsru00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992