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Committee approves bill moving unemployment rules into statute to improve clarity
Summary
House Bill 54 would move substantial portions of Department of Labor rules into statute to consolidate requirements for unemployment insurance and claims for wages; the Senate Commerce Committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted to send House Bill 54 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it "do pass" after hearing from Janie Revere, director of the Idaho Department of Labor, who said the measure would transfer major rule language into statute to improve clarity and ensure continued federal conformity.
Revere told the committee that HB 54 is a response to recent legislation (House Bill 563 and House Bill 626) prompting agencies to consider codifying rule content into statute where appropriate. "This legislation moves significant portions of our rule into statute," Revere said, adding that the intent is to keep statutory provisions clear about who qualifies for benefits, how employers are taxed, and how appeals are processed while leaving procedural detail to rule. She said the bill would eliminate about 65% of the department's current rules and amend 24 statutory sections while creating six new sections of employment security law; it also amends one section related to claims for wages.
Revere emphasized that the unemployment insurance program remains a federal-state partnership, and that federal law (including the Social Security Act and the Federal Unemployment Tax Act) constrains key program requirements. She said the department's current program meets federal conformity rules and that the bill would not change program operations or have a fiscal impact on the general fund or federal funds.
After the presentation, Senator Guthrie moved to send HB 54 to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation; Senator Ward Engle King seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and the chair said the motion carried. There was no public testimony and no amendments recorded.
Background provided by Revere included an overview of the department's operations: three divisions (determinations, workforce and commissions, administrative services), unemployment insurance eligibility and weekly certification processes, the department's compliance and overpayment recovery activities, and ongoing DDS (Disability Determination Services) processing times. Revere noted the department recently broke ground on a new Twin Falls office expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The bill will next be scheduled for floor consideration by the Idaho State Senate.
