BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page1of22
S.117
IntroducedbyCommitteeonEconomicDevelopment,HousingandGeneral
Affairs
Date:March13,2025
Subject:Labor;safety;employmentpractices;wageandhour;noticeof
potentiallayoffs;unemploymentcompensation
Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestomodifythe
formalrulemakingrequirementsfortheState’sOccupationalSafetyand
HealthPlan.Thisbillalsoproposestoclarifytheemployee’sshareof
recoverywhereanemployerhaswillfullywithheldpay.Thisbillalso
proposestoclarifyhowtheminimumwageiscalculatedandtoremovethe
CommissionerofLabor’sauthoritytorecommendasubminimumwagefor
individualswithdisabilities.Thisbillalsoproposeschangestothenotice
requirementforpotentiallayoffs.Thisbillalsoproposestoprovideemployers
andclaimantswiththeoptiontoreceiveunemploymentinsurancenoticesand
determinationselectronically.Thisbillalsoproposestoclarifyreporting,for
unemploymentinsurancepurposes,whenasuccessordividestheoperationof
anemployer’sbusiness.Thisbillalsoproposestoamendthestatutory
definitionofthehighestbenefitcostrateusedtocalculatethetaxrateschedule
forunemploymentinsurance.Thisbillalsoproposestorounddownthe
earningsonweeklyclaimswithrespecttodisregardedearnings.Thisbillalso
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page2of22
proposestoresumetheshort-termcompensationprogrameffectivewith
completionofthemodernizationoftheunemploymentinsurancesystemandto
extendthedeadlineforimplementationofthemodernizedsystembyoneyear
toJuly1,2026.
Anactrelatingtorulemakingonsafetyandhealthstandardsandtechnical
correctionsonemploymentpracticesandunemploymentcompensation
ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont:
***SafetyandHealthRulemaking***
Sec.1.21V.S.A.§204isamendedtoread:
§204.RULESANDPROCEDURE
(a)(1)(A)Exceptasotherwiseprovidedpursuanttosubdivision(2)ofthis
subsection(a),theprovisionsof3V.S.A.chapter25,subchapter3shallnot
applytotheCommissioner’sadoptioninitsentiretyofanyruleorstandard
adoptedbytheU.S.DepartmentofLabor’sOccupationalSafetyandHealth
AdministrationpursuanttotheactforwhichtheStateisrequiredtoadopta
ruleorstandardthatisatleastaseffectiveasthefederalruleorstandardin
ordertomaintaintheapprovaloftheState’sOccupationalSafetyandHealth
Plan.
(B)Foreveryruleorstandardproposedtobeadoptedpursuanttothe
provisionsofthissubdivision(1),theCommissionershall:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page3of22
(i)providenoticeoftheproposedruletointerestedparties,
includingaffectedemployersandtradeorganizationsthatareknowntothe
Commissioner;
(ii)posttheproposedruleorstandardtotheDepartment’swebsite
foratleast30days;and
(iii)provideatleast30daysformembersofthepublictosubmit
commentsregardingtheproposedrule.
(C)(i)Aftercompliancewiththeproceduressetforthinsubdivision
(B)ofthissubdivision(a)(1),adoptionoftheruleorstandardshallbe
completeuponfilingwiththeSecretaryofStateandtheruleorstandardshall
takeeffectonthelaterof15daysafteritisfiledwiththeSecretaryofStateor
alatereffectivedateasdeterminedbytheCommissioner.
(ii)ThefilingwiththeSecretaryofStateshallinclude:
(I)acoversheetonaformpreparedbytheSecretaryofState
thatcontainsatleastthefollowinginformation:
(aa)thetitleorsubjectoftheruleorstandard;
(bb)asummaryofthedatesonwhichtheDepartment
compliedwiththerequirementsofthissubdivision(a)(1);and
(cc)asignedanddatedstatementbytheCommissionerthat
theproceduralrequirementsofthissubdivision(a)(1)havebeenmetandthat
theCommissionerapprovesthecontentsofthefiling;and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page4of22
(II)thetextoftheruleorstandard.
(D)Afteradoptingaruleorstandardpursuanttotheprovisionsof
thissubdivision(a)(1),theDepartmentshallcreateafilecontainingallpapers
andrecordsusedorcreatedduringtheadoptionoftheruleorstandard.The
fileshallbemaintainedforatleastoneyearafterthedateonwhichtheruleor
standardisadopted.
(2)(A)Foranyruleorstandardproposedthatismoreprotectiveof
healthandsafetythanthefederalstandardoranyruleorstandardforwhich
thereisnocorrespondingfederalruleorstandard,theCommissionershall
adopttheproposedruleorstandardpursuanttotherulemakingproceduresset
forthin3V.S.A.chapter25,relatingtoadministrativeprocedure,shallapply
tothischapterandtheVOSHACode.
(B)Uponrequestof25ormorepersonsmadeinrelationtoaruleor
standardproposedforadoptionpursuanttosubdivision(1)ofthissubsection
(a),theCommissionershallberequiredtoadopttheproposedruleorstandard
pursuanttotherulemakingproceduressetforthin3V.S.A.chapter25,
subchapter3.
***
Sec.2.21V.S.A.§204isamendedtoread:
(a)(1)(A)Exceptasotherwiseprovidedpursuanttosubdivision(2)ofthis
subsection(a),theprovisionsof3V.S.A.chapter25,subchapter3shallnot
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page5of22
applytotheCommissioner’sadoptioninitsentiretyofanyruleorstandard
adoptedbytheU.S.DepartmentofLabor’sOccupationalSafetyandHealth
AdministrationpursuanttotheactforwhichtheStateisrequiredtoadopta
ruleorstandardthatisatleastaseffectiveasthefederalruleorstandardin
ordertomaintaintheapprovaloftheState’sOccupationalSafetyandHealth
Plan.
(B)Foreveryruleorstandardproposedtobeadoptedpursuanttothe
provisionsofthissubdivision(1),theCommissionershall:
(i)providenoticeoftheproposedruletointerestedparties,
includingaffectedemployersandtradeorganizationsthatareknowntothe
Commissioner;
(ii)posttheproposedruleorstandardtotheDepartment’swebsite
foratleast30days;and
(iii)provideatleast30daysformembersofthepublictosubmit
commentsregardingtheproposedrule.
(C)(i)Aftercompliancewiththeproceduressetforthinsubdivision
(B)ofthissubdivision(a)(1),adoptionoftheruleorstandardshallbe
completeuponfilingwiththeSecretaryofStateandtheruleorstandardshall
takeeffectonthelaterof15daysafteritisfiledwiththeSecretaryofStateor
alatereffectivedateasdeterminedbytheCommissioner.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page6of22
(ii)ThefilingwiththeSecretaryofStateshallinclude:
(I)acoversheetonaformpreparedbytheSecretaryofState
thatcontainsatleastthefollowinginformation:
(aa)thetitleorsubjectoftheruleorstandard;
(bb)asummaryofthedatesonwhichtheDepartment
compliedwiththerequirementsofthissubdivision(a)(1);and
(cc)asignedanddatedstatementbytheCommissionerthat
theproceduralrequirementsofthissubdivision(a)(1)havebeenmetandthat
theCommissionerapprovesthecontentsofthefiling;and
(II)thetextoftheruleorstandard.
(D)Afteradoptingaruleorstandardpursuanttotheprovisionsof
thissubdivision(a)(1),theDepartmentshallcreateafilecontainingallpapers
andrecordsusedorcreatedduringtheadoptionoftheruleorstandard.The
fileshallbemaintainedforatleastoneyearafterthedateonwhichtheruleor
standardisadopted.
(2)(A)Foranyruleorstandardproposedthatismoreprotectiveof
healthandsafetythanthefederalstandardoranyruleorstandardforwhich
thereisnocorrespondingfederalruleorstandard,theCommissionershall
adopttheproposedruleorstandardpursuanttotherulemakingproceduresset
forthin3V.S.A.chapter25,relatingtoadministrativeprocedure,shallapply
tothischapterandtheVOSHACode.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page7of22
(B)Uponrequestof25ormorepersonsmadeinrelationtoaruleor
standardproposedforadoptionpursuanttosubdivision(1)ofthissubsection
(a),theCommissionershallberequiredtoadopttheproposedruleorstandard
pursuanttotherulemakingproceduressetforthin3V.S.A.chapter25,
subchapter3.
***
Sec.3.21V.S.A.§224isamendedtoread:
§224.RULESANDSTANDARDS
(a)TheSubjecttotheproceduressetforthinsection204ofthischapter,
theCommissionershalladoptrulesandstandardsnecessarytoimplementthe
purposesanddutiessetforthinthissubchapterinsofarastheyrelatetosafety
andtoenforcementoftheVOSHACode.
(b)TheSubjecttotheproceduressetforthinsection204ofthischapter,
theCommissioner,inconsultationwiththeSecretaryofHumanServices,shall
adoptrulesandstandardsnecessarytoimplementthepurposesoftheVOSHA
CodeanddutiesimposedbytheCode,insofarastheyrelatetohealth.
***
Sec.4.21V.S.A.§224isamendedtoread:
§224.RULESANDSTANDARDS
(a)Subjecttotheproceduressetforthinsection204ofthischapter,the
TheCommissionershalladoptrulesandstandardsnecessarytoimplementthe
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page8of22
purposesanddutiessetforthinthissubchapterinsofarastheyrelatetosafety
andtoenforcementoftheVOSHACode.
(b)Subjecttotheproceduressetforthinsection204ofthischapter,the
TheCommissioner,inconsultationwiththeSecretaryofHumanServices,
shalladoptrulesandstandardsnecessarytoimplementthepurposesofthe
VOSHACodeanddutiesimposedbytheCode,insofarastheyrelatetohealth.
***
***WageandHour***
Sec.5.21V.S.A.§342aisamendedtoread:
§342a.INVESTIGATIONOFCOMPLAINTSOFUNPAIDWAGES
***
(d)IftheCommissionerdeterminesthattheunpaidwageswerewillfully
withheldbytheemployer,theorderforcollectionmayshallprovidethatthe
employerisliabletopayanadditionalamountnottoexceedtwicetheamount
ofunpaidwages,one-half.One-halfofwhichwilltheadditionalamount
recoveredabovetheemployee’sunpaidwagesshallberemittedtothe
employeeandone-halfofwhichshallberetainedbytheCommissionerto
offsetadministrativeandcollectioncosts.
***
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page9of22
Sec.6.21V.S.A.§384isamendedtoread:
§384.EMPLOYMENT;WAGES
(a)(1)BeginningonJanuary1,2022,anemployershallnotemployany
employeeatarateoflessthan$12.55,andoneachsubsequentJanuary1,the
minimumwagerateshallbeincreasedbyfivepercentorthepercentage
increaseoftheConsumerPriceIndex,CPI-U,U.S.cityaverage,notseasonally
adjusted,orsuccessorindex,ascalculatedbytheU.S.DepartmentofLaboror
successoragency,roundedtoonedecimalpoint,forthe12monthspreceding
thepreviousSeptember1,whicheverissmaller,butinnoeventshallthe
minimumwagebedecreased.Theminimumwageshallberoundedofftothe
nearest$0.01.
***
Sec.7.21V.S.A.§385isamendedtoread:
§385.ADMINISTRATION
TheCommissionerandtheCommissioner’sauthorizedrepresentativeshave
fullpowerandauthorityforallthefollowing:
***
(5)Torecommendasuitablescaleofratesforlearners,andapprentices,
andpersonswithdisabilities,whichmaybelessthantheregularminimum
wagerateforexperiencedworkerswithoutdisabilities.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page10of22
***NoticeofPotentialLayoffs***
Sec.8.21V.S.A.§411isamendedtoread:
§411.DEFINITIONS
Asusedinthissubchapter:
(1)“Affectedemployees”meansemployeeswhomaybeexpectedto
experienceanemploymentlossasaconsequenceofaproposedoractual
businessclosingormasslayoffbytheiremployer.
(2)“Businessclosing”means:
(A)thepermanentshutdownofafacility;
(B)thepermanentcessationofoperationsatoneormoreworksitesin
theStatethatresultsinthelayoffof5020ormoreemployeesovera90-day
period;or
(C)thecessationofworkoroperationsnotscheduledtoresume
within90daysthataffects5020ormoreemployees.
***
(5)“Employer”meansanypersonthatemploys:
(A)50ormorefull-timeemployeesintotal,includingnationallyand
internationally;
(B)50ormorepart-timeemployeesintotal,includingnationallyand
internationally,whoworkatleast1,040hoursperemployeeperyear;or
(C)acombinationof50ormore:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page11of22
(i)full-timeemployees;and
(ii)part-timeemployeeswhoworkatleast1,040hoursper
employeeperyear.
***
(7)“Masslayoff”meansapermanentemploymentlossofatleast5020
employeesatoneormoreworksitesinVermontduringany90-dayperiod.In
determiningwhetheramasslayoffhasoccurredorwilloccur,employment
lossesfortwoormoregroupsofemployees,eachofwhichisbelowthis
thresholdbutwhichintheaggregateexceedthisthresholdandwhichoccur
withinany90-dayperiodshallbeconsideredtobeamasslayoffunlessthe
employerdemonstratesthattheemploymentlossesaretheresultofseparate
anddistinctactionsandcauses.
***
***UnemploymentCompensation***
Sec.9.21V.S.A.§1308isamendedtoread:
§1308.ORGANIZATION
TheCommissionershalldeterminehisorherthemethodofprocedurein
accordancewiththeprovisionsofthischapter.Notwithstandingany
requirementinthischapterthattheCommissionermailnoticesand
determinations,theCommissionermayprovideclaimantsandemployerswith
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page12of22
theoptiontoauthorizecommunicationsfromtheCommissionertobe
deliveredelectronically.
Sec.10.21V.S.A.§1314isamendedtoread:
§1314.REPORTSANDRECORDS;SEPARATIONINFORMATION;
DETERMINATIONOFELIGIBILITY;FAILURETOREPORT
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION;DISCLOSUREOF
INFORMATIONTOOTHERSTATEAGENCIESTO
INVESTIGATEMISCLASSIFICATIONORMISCODING
***
(c)Ifanemployingunitfailstocomplyadequatelywiththeprovisionsof
subsection(b)ofthissectionandsection1314aofthissubchapter,the
Commissionershalldeterminethebenefitrightsofaclaimantuponthe
availableinformation.Promptnoticeinwritingofthedeterminationshallbe
giventotheemployingunit.Theemployingunitmayrequestorauthorizethe
Commissionertoprovidenoticeofthedeterminationelectronically.The
determinationshallbefinalwithrespecttoanoncomplyingemployerastoany
chargesagainstitsexperience-ratingrecordforbenefitspaidtotheclaimant
beforetheweekfollowingthereceiptoftheemployingunit’sreply.The
employingunit’sexperienceratingrecordshallnotberelievedofthese
charges,notwithstandinganyotherprovisionofthischapter,unlessthe
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page13of22
Commissionerdeterminesthatfailuretocomplywasduetounavoidable
accidentormistake.
***
Sec.11.21V.S.A.§1314aisamendedtoread:
§1314a.QUARTERLYWAGEREPORTING;MISCLASSIFICATION;
PENALTIES
***
(d)Reportsrequiredbysubsection(c)ofthissectionshallbesubmittedto
theCommissionernotlaterthan10calendardaysafterthedatethe
Commissioner’srequestwassentelectronicallyormailedtotheemploying
unit.
(e)OnrequestoftheCommissioner,anyemployingunitoremployershall
report,within10daysafterthemailing,electronicdelivery,orpersonal
deliveryoftherequest,separationinformationforaclaimant,any
disqualifyingincometheclaimantmayhavereceived,andanyother
informationthattheCommissionermayrequiretodeterminetheclaimant’s
eligibilityforunemploymentcompensation.TheCommissionershallmakea
requestwhen:
***
Sec.12.21V.S.A.§1330isamendedtoread:
§1330.ASSESSMENTPROVIDED
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page14of22
Whenanyemployerfailstopayanycontributionsorpaymentsrequired
underthischapter,theCommissionershallmakeanassessmentof
contributionsagainsttheemployertogetherwithapplicableinterestand
penalty.Aftermakingtheassessment,theCommissionershallgivenoticeto
theemployerelectronicallyorbyordinaryorcertifiedmail,andthe
assessmentshallbefinalunlesstheemployerpetitionsforahearingonthe
assessmentpursuanttosection1331ofthissubchapter.
Sec.13.21V.S.A.§1331isamendedtoread:
§1331.NOTICE;HEARING
(a)Anyemployeragainstwhomanassessmentismademay,within30
daysafterthedateoftheassessment,filewiththeCommissionerapetitionfor
ahearingbeforearefereeappointedforthatpurpose.Thepetitionshallset
forthspecificallyandindetailthegroundsuponwhichitisclaimedthe
assessmentiserroneous.
(b)Hearingorhearingsontheassessmentshallbeheldbytherefereeat
timesandplacesprovidedbytherulesoftheBoardandduenoticeofthetime
andplaceofthehearingorhearingsshallbegivenelectronicallyorby
ordinaryorcertifiedmailtothepetitioner.
(c)Afterthehearingthepetitionershallbepromptlynotifiedelectronically
orbyordinaryorcertifiedmailofthefindingsoffact,conclusions,and
decisionofthereferee.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page15of22
***
Sec.14.21V.S.A.§1332isamendedtoread:
§1332.REVIEWBYBOARD;SUPREMECOURTAPPEAL
***
(d)Thepartiesshallbepromptlynotifiedelectronicallyorbyordinaryor
certifiedmailofthefindingsoffact,conclusions,anddecisionoftheBoard.
ThedecisionoftheBoardshallbefinalunlessitisappealedtotheSupreme
Court.
Sec.15.21V.S.A.§1337aisamendedtoread:
§1337a.ADMINISTRATIVEDETERMINATION;HEARINGON
(a)Anyemployingunitaggrievedbyanadministrativedetermination
affectingitsrateofcontributions,itsrightstoadjustmentorrefundon
contributionspaid,itscoverageasanemployer,oritsterminationofcoverage
may,within30daysafterthedateofthedetermination,filewiththe
Commissionerapetitionforahearingonthedetermination.Thepetitionshall
setforthspecificallyandindetailthegroundsuponwhichitisclaimedthe
administrativedeterminationiserroneous.Hearingorhearingsonthepetition
shallbeheldbyarefereeappointedforthatpurpose,attimesandplacesas
providedbyrulesoftheBoard.Noticeofthetimeandplaceofthehearingor
hearingsshallbegivenelectronicallyorbyordinaryorcertifiedmailtothe
petitioner.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page16of22
(b)Afterahearingpursuanttosubsection(a)ofthissection,thepetitioner
shallbepromptlynotifiedelectronicallyorbyordinaryorcertifiedmailofthe
findingsoffact,conclusions,anddecisionofthereferee.Thedecisionofthe
refereeshallbefinalunlesstheemployingunitorCommissionermakes
applicationforreviewofthedecisionbytheBoardwithin30daysafterthe
dateofthedecisionorunlesstheBoard,onitsownmotionwithinthesame
period,initiatesareviewofthedecision.
Sec.16.21V.S.A.§1357isamendedtoread:
§1357.NOTICES;FORMANDSERVICE
Noticesrequiredundertheprovisionsofthischapter,unlessotherwise
providedbytheprovisionsofthischapterorbyrulesadoptedbytheSupreme
Court,shallbedeemedsufficientifgiveninwritinganddeliveredtothe
personentitledtoitbyanagentoftheCommissioner,orsentelectronicallyor
byordinaryorcertifiedmailtothelastknownaddressofthepersonappearing
intherecordsoftheCommissioner.Themannerofserviceshallbecertified
bytheagentoftheCommissionermakingtheservice.Regardlessofthe
mannerofserviceandunlessotherwiseprovided,appealperiodsshall
commencetorunfromthedateofthedeterminationordecisionrendered.Ifa
persontowhomanoticehasbeensentfileswiththeCommissionerwithin60
daysafterthedateofthenoticeaswornstatementtotheeffectthatthenotice
wasnotreceived,oriftheCommissionerissatisfiedthattheaddresseedidnot
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page17of22
receivethenotice,anewnoticeshallbesenttothatpersonandtheappeal
periodshallcommencetorunfromthedateonwhichthenewnoticeissent.
Sec.17.21V.S.A.§1325isamendedtoread:
§1325.EMPLOYERS’EXPERIENCE-RATINGRECORDS;
DISCLOSURETOSUCCESSORENTITY
***
(b)(1)Disclosureofcontributionratetosuccessorentity.Anyindividual
oremployingunitwhoinanymannersucceedstooracquirestheorganization,
trade,orbusinessorsubstantiallyalloftheassetsofanyemployerwhohas
beenoperatingthebusinesswithintwoweekspriortotheacquisition,except
anyassetsretainedbytheemployerincidenttotheliquidationofthe
employer’sobligations,andwhothereaftercontinuestheacquiredbusiness
shallbeconsideredtobeasuccessortothepredecessorfromwhomthe
businesswasacquiredand,ifnotalreadyanemployerbeforetheacquisition,
shallbecomeanemployeronthedateoftheacquisition.TheCommissioner
shalltransfertheexperience-ratingrecordofthepredecessoremployertothe
successoremployer.Ifthesuccessorwasnotanemployerbeforethedateof
acquisition,thesuccessor’srateofcontributionfortheremainderoftherate
yearshallbetherateapplicabletothepredecessoremployerswithrespectto
theperiodimmediatelyprecedingthedateofacquisitioniftherewasonlyone
predecessorortherewereonlypredecessorswithidenticalrates.Ifthe
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page18of22
predecessors’rateswerenotidentical,theCommissionershalldeterminearate
basedonthecombinedexperienceofallthepredecessoremployers.Ifthe
successorwasanemployerbeforethedateofacquisition,thecontributionrate
thatwasassignedtothesuccessorfortherateyearinwhichtheacquisition
occurredwillremainassignedtothesuccessorfortheremainderoftherate
year,afterwhichtheexperience-ratingrecordofthepredecessorshallbe
combinedwiththeexperienceratingofthesuccessortoformthesingle
employerexperience-ratingrecordofthesuccessor.Atanytimepriortothe
issuanceofthecertificaterequiredbysubsection1322(b)ofthischapter,an
employingunitshall,uponrequestofapotentialsuccessor,disclosetothe
potentialsuccessoritscurrentexperience-ratingrecord.
(2)Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsubdivision(1)ofthissubsection,
anindividualoremployingunitwhoinanymannersucceedstooracquiresthe
organization,trade,orbusinessorsubstantiallyalloftheassetsofany
employingunitwhowasanemployerbeforethedateofacquisitionandwhose
currentlyassignedcontributionrateishigherthanthatcurrentlyassignedtothe
acquiringindividualoremployingunitshallnotbetreatedasasuccessor.
(3)Ifasuccessor,uponacquisitionofanemployerundersubdivision
(1)ofthissubsection,dividesoperationofthesuccessorbusinessbetweentwo
ormorecorporateentities,thesuccessorshalldesignateoneofthecorporate
entitiesinvolvedinsuccessor’sbusinessoperationsasthefilingsuccessorfor
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page19of22
purposesofquarterlywagereportingandbenefitrateassignment.The
designatedfilingsuccessorshallincludeallemployeesinvolvedincarryingon
thesuccessorbusinessinthedesignatedfilingsuccessor’squarterlywage
reportingandshallpaythefullsuccessorbenefittaxonallbusiness
employees.
***
Sec.18.21V.S.A.§1326isamendedtoread:
§1326.RATEBASEDONBENEFITEXPERIENCE
***
(d)TheCommissionershallcomputeacurrentfundratio,andahighest
benefitcostrate,asfollows:
(1)Thecurrentfundratioshallbedeterminedbydividingtheavailable
balanceoftheUnemploymentCompensationFundonDecember31ofthe
precedingcalendaryearbythetotalwagespaidforemploymentduringthat
calendaryearasreportedbyemployersbythefollowingMarch31.
(2)(A)Thehighestbenefitcostrateshallbedeterminedbydividingthe
highestamountofbenefitpaymentsmadeduringaconsecutive12-month
periodthatendedwithinthe10-yearperiodendingontheprecedingDecember
31,bythetotalwagespaidduringthefourcalendarquarterperiodsthatended
withinthat12-monthperiodisthehighestannualratiowithinthe10-year
periodendingontheprecedingDecember31,ofbenefitspaid,includingthe
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page20of22
State’sshareofextendedbenefits,fortaxpayingemployersdividedbytotal
wagespaidincoveredemploymentfortaxpayingemployersforthesame
period.
(B)Notwithstandinganyprovisionofsubdivision(A)ofthis
subdivision(d)(2)tothecontrary,whencomputingthetaxratescheduleto
becomeeffectiveonJuly1,2021andoneachsubsequentJuly1,the
Commissionershallcalculatethehighestbenefitcostratewithout
considerationofbenefitpaymentsmadeincalendaryear2020.
***
Sec.19.21V.S.A.§1338aisamendedtoread:
§1338a.DISREGARDEDEARNINGS
(a)Anindividualshallbedeemed“partiallyunemployed”inanyweekof
lessthanfull-timeworkifthewagesearnedbytheindividualwithrespectto
suchweekarelessthantheweeklybenefitamounttheindividualwouldbe
entitledtoreceiveiftotallyunemployedandeligible.Asusedinthissection,
“wages”inanyoneweekincludesonlythatamountofremunerationrounded
downtothenearestdollarthatisinexcessof50percentoftheindividual’s
weeklywage.
***
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page21of22
Sec.20.21V.S.A.§1462isamendedtoread:
§1462.PERIODOFDORMANCY
OnJuly1,2020,theShort-TimeCompensationProgramestablished
pursuanttosections1451–1461ofthissubchaptershallceaseceasedoperation
andshallnotresumeoperationunlessdirectedtodosobyenactmentofthe
GeneralAssemblyor,iftheGeneralAssemblyisnotinsession,byorderof
theJointFiscalCommittee.TheJointFiscalCommitteeshallissuesuchorder
onlyuponfindingthat,duetoachangeincircumstances,resumptionofthe
Short-TimeCompensationProgramwouldbethemosteffectivewaytoassist
employersinavoidinglayoffs.Upontheeffectivedateofsuchanenactment
ororderEffectiveuponcompletionoftheprojecttoimplementamodernized
informationtechnologysystemfortheunemploymentinsuranceprogramin
2026,theShort-TimeCompensationProgramshallresumeoperationpursuant
totheprovisionsofsections1451–1461ofthissubchapter.
Sec.21.2022ActsandResolvesNo.183,Sec.52fisamendedtoread:
Sec.52f.UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE;INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION;ANNUALREPORT;
INDEPENDENTVERIFICATION
(a)(1)TheSecretaryofDigitalServicesandtheCommissionerofLabor
shall,tothegreatestextentpossible,planandcarryoutthedevelopmentand
implementationofamodernizedinformationtechnologysystemforthe
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.117
2025 Page22of22
unemploymentinsuranceprogramsothatthemodernizedsystemisreadyand
abletoimplementonorbeforeJuly1,20252026thechangestothe
unemploymentinsuranceweeklybenefitamountsetforthinSecs.52dand52e
ofthisact.
***
***EffectiveDates***
Sec.22.EFFECTIVEDATES
(a)Secs.1,3,5–21,andthissectionshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
(b)Secs.2and4shalltakeeffectonJuly1,2028.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9