SB 6004 - HB 6002
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
January 26, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Rebecca Chandler | Email: rebecca.chandler@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
SB 6004 - HB 6002
SUMMARY OF BILL: Requires the suspension of certain conditions for receipt of
unemployment insurance benefits during a declared emergency to the extent necessary to allow the
Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to amend such reporting
requirements to align with federal guidelines.
Authorizes the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to assist a political subdivision
or local emergency management agency with recovery from disasters and emergencies on public
property at the request of the political subdivision or agency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
OTHER FISCAL IMPACT
Due to multiple unknown variables, the timing and extent of any increases in state expenditures
cannot be determined with reasonable certainty. Additionally, the timing and extent of any additional
FEMA reimbursements cannot be determined with certainty.
Assumptions:
• Unemployment insurance is a federal-state program which requires adherence to federal
regulations.
• The proposed language specifies that any suspension is limited to eligible claimants who
reside or work in a county for which Tennessee has requested major disaster relief.
• Due to the significant variation in population sizes across Tennessee counties and the
unknown number of declarations of emergency that may occur, the number of eligible
claimants impacted by the suspension of certain unemployment requirements cannot be
reasonably predicted.
• The specific unemployment requirements that would be suspended under federal
guidelines, as well as the length of time of each suspension, cannot be determined with
certainty.
• As a result, the timing and extent of any increases in state expenditures cannot be
determined with reasonable certainty.
• Any assistance TEMA may offer to a political subdivision or local emergency management
agency, upon request, with recovery from disasters is estimated to be accomplished within
existing resources and personnel.
SB 6004 - HB 6002 2
• According to TEMA, the authorization to provide such assistance would enable TEMA to
obtain reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the
future when providing certain forms of recovery assistance to local governments.
• The timing and amount of any such additional future FEMA reimbursements are
dependent upon a multitude of unknown variables and cannot be determined with
reasonable certainty.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director