Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 106 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H2/2/23 1
94th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2023 HOUSE BILL 1197 3
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By: Representative Underwood 5
By: Senator Gilmore 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT CONCERNING DI SQUALIFICATION FOR U NEMPLOYMENT 9
COMPENSATION BENEFIT S UNDER THE DIVISION OF WORKFORCE 10
SERVICES LAW; TO PRO HIBIT A CLAIMANT FOR UNEMPLOYMENT 11
COMPENSATION BENEFIT S FROM "GHOSTING" PR OSPECTIVE 12
EMPLOYERS; AND FOR O THER PURPOSES. 13
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Subtitle 16
CONCERNING DISQUALIFICATION FOR 17
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS UNDER 18
THE DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES LAW; 19
AND TO PROHIBIT A CLAIMANT FOR 20
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS FROM 21
"GHOSTING" PROSPECTIVE E MPLOYERS. 22
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 25
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SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Title — Purpose. 27
(a) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Prohibiting 28
Unemployment Claimants from Ghosting Employers Act of 2023". 29
(b) The purpose of this act is to disqualify a claimant from 30
collecting unemployment compensation benefits for any week that the claimant 31
fails to respond to an offer of employment or fails to appear for a 32
previously scheduled job interview. 33
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SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 11-10-515(a)(1)(A), concerning the 35
disqualification for unemployment compensation benefits due to failure or 36 As Engrossed: H2/2/23 HB1197
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refusal to apply for or accept suitable work under the Division of Workforce 1
Services Law, is amended to read as follows: 2
(a)(1)(A) If so found by the Director of the Division of Workforce 3
Services, an individual shall be disqualified for benefits if he or she has 4
failed without good cause: 5
(i) To apply for available suitable work when so 6
directed by a Division of Workforce Services office; or 7
(ii) To accept available suitable work when offered 8
within five (5) business days of the offer of a job; or 9
(iii)(a) To appear for a previously scheduled job 10
interview on at least two (2) occasions without notifying the prospective 11
employer of the need to cancel or reschedule the job interview. 12
(b) A prospective employer may notify the 13
division of the individual's failure to appear for a scheduled job interview 14
through an online portal established by the division or through an email or 15
telephone number designated for reporting noncompliance. 16
(c) Before the director disqualifies an 17
individual from a week of unemployment compensation benefits for 18
noncompliance under this subdivision (a)(1)(A)(iii), the director shall 19
verify the information submitted by the employer under subdivision 20
(a)(1)(A)(iii)(b) of this section. 21
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SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. EFFECTIVE DATE. This act is effective on 23
and after January 1, 2024. 24
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/s/Underwood 26
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APPROVED: 2/21/23 29
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