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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 SCR 3 3
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By: Senator J. Scott 5
By: Representative T. Shephard 6
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8
TO URGE THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO 9
PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT TAX 10
ACT TO WAIVE THE "REASONABLE ASSURANCE" CLAUSE TO 11
ALLOW HOURLY NINE-MONTH EMPLOYEES OF EDUCATIONAL 12
INSTITUTIONS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 13
DURING THE SUMMER. 14
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Subtitle 17
TO URGE THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL 18
DELEGATION TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO 19
THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT TAX ACT TO 20
WAIVE THE "REASONABLE ASSURANCE" CLAUSE. 21
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WHEREAS, under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, certain employees of 23
educational institutions are not eligible for compensation for any week 24
during a period between two (2) academic years if the employee performs 25
services in the first of the academic years and if there is a contract or 26
reasonable assurance that the employee will perform the services during the 27
second academic year; and 28
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WHEREAS, a nine-month employee of an educational institution often 30
falls under the "reasonable assurance" exception, which disqualifies the 31
employee for eligibility for unemployment benefits during the summer months; 32
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WHEREAS, nine-month employees of educational institutions are vital 35
employees of educational institutions; and 36 SCR3
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WHEREAS, waiving the "reasonable assurance" clause would greatly assist 2
our educational support professionals, including without limitation bus 3
drivers, cafeteria workers and paraprofessionals, during the summer months, 4
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NOW THEREFORE, 6
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE 7
STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN: 8
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THAT the General Assembly urges the Arkansas congressional delegation 10
to propose an amendment to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act to waive the 11
"reasonable assurance" clause to authorize hourly nine -month employees to be 12
eligible for unemployment benefits during the summer. 13
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon its adoption, a copy of this resolution be 15
transmitted to the Arkansas congressional delegation by the Secretary of the 16
Senate. 17
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