1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to unemployment; modifying the definition of available for suitable
1.3 employment; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268.085, subdivision
1.4 15.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268.085, subdivision 15, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 15.Available for suitable employment defined.(a) "Available for suitable
1.8employment" means an applicant is ready, willing, and able to accept suitable employment.
1.9The attachment to the work force must be genuine. An applicant may restrict availability
1.10to suitable employment, but there must be no other restrictions, either self-imposed or created
1.11by circumstances, temporary or permanent, that prevent accepting suitable employment.
1.12 (b) Unless the applicant is in reemployment assistance training, to be "available for
1.13suitable employment," a student who has regularly scheduled classes must be willing to
1.14discontinue classes to accept suitable employment when:
1.15 (1) class attendance restricts the applicant from accepting suitable employment; and
1.16 (2) the applicant is unable to change the scheduled class or make other arrangements
1.17that excuse the applicant from attending class.
1.18 (c) Except for an active search that may be done remotely, an applicant who is absent
1.19from the labor market area for personal reasons, other than to search for work, is not
1.20"available for suitable employment."
1.21 (d) An applicant who has restrictions on the hours of the day or days of the week that
1.22the applicant can or will work, that are not normal for the applicant's usual occupation or
1Section 1.
REVISOR SS/AC 25-0458603/18/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2996
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Youakim and Kraft04/01/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy 2.1other suitable employment, is not "available for suitable employment." An applicant must
2.2be available for daytime employment, if suitable employment is performed during the
2.3daytime, even though the applicant previously worked the night shift.
2Section 1.
REVISOR SS/AC 25-0458603/18/25