UI/Give Enhanced Benefits During Disasters.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 960

Short Title: UI/Give Enhanced Benefits During Disasters. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Longest, Ager, Butler, and Lofton (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H960-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT AUTHORIZING A CTIVATION OF AN INCR EASED UNEMPLOYMENT 2
INSURANCE WEEKLY BEN EFIT AMOUNT WHEN A D ISASTER IS DECLARED 3
UNDER THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 96-14.2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 6
"(f) Temporary Enhancement During Declared Disasters. – Subject to the certification 7
requirements of G.S. 96-9.3(f), for claims filed during any period in which a disaster declaration 8
has been declared pursuant t o G.S. 166A-19.21, and for the duration of the declaration, the 9
maximum weekly benefit amount shall be temporarily increased to six hundred dollars ($600.00), 10
notwithstanding the maximum weekly benefit amount established under subsection (a) of this 11
section." 12
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 96-9.2 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 13
"(f) Enhanced Benefit Earmarking. – Funds within the Unemployment Insurance Fund 14
shall be earmarked as a reserve dedicated to funding the enhanced benefits authorized by 15
G.S. 96-14.2(f). The Division shall project annually the amount of funds reasonably necessary to 16
maintain the sufficiency for providing the enhanced benefits. Beginning January 1, 202 7, then 17
annually thereafter, the Division shall report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on 18
Unemployment Insurance regarding the projections and earmarks for the preceding year." 19
SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 96-9.3 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20
"(f) Certification of Sufficient Funding. – The Division shall certify that sufficient funds 21
have been earmarked under G.S. 96-9.2(f) to pay enhanced benefits under G.S. 166A-19.20, 22
prior to the implementation of enhanced benefits under G.S. 96-14.2(f). If the Division 23
determines that funds in the Account are insufficient to provide enhanced benefits for the 24
anticipated duration of the disaster declaration, temporary enhancement under G.S. 96-14.2(f) 25
shall not take effect for that disaster declar ation unless the General Assembly enacts the 26
temporary enhancement in accordance with Article II, Section 23 of the North Carolina 27
Constitution." 28
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 29