House adopts higher work-search requirement for unemployment; small-county exemption added

The Alabama House of Representatives passed House Bill 29 on Feb. 11, increasing the number of weekly work-search actions required of unemployment insurance claimants from three to five and adopting a friendly amendment that keeps the requirement at three for counties with fewer than 20,000 residents.

Sponsor Representative Ed Oliver said the measure strengthens work-search rules to encourage re-employment and combat what he described as “ghosting” — applicants who apply but do not show for interviews. “Studies show that clearly defined measurable work-search actions lead to faster reemployment,” Oliver said during floor debate.

The bill leaves intact existing state law definitions about “suitable work,” including considerations such as risk to health and safety, prior experience and distance from the claimant’s residence. Oliver and other proponents pointed to a provision allowing claimants who cannot find suitable local work to enroll in Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) training programs and continue receiving benefits while training.

Opponents, led by several legislators representing rural districts, said the measure could penalize people who lack access to employers, transportation or online resources to document searches. Representative Lawrence offered and the sponsor accepted a friendly amendment to preserve the prior three-search rule for counties with populations under 20,000. Representatives Jackson, Warren and others repeatedly urged more emphasis on job training, transportation and childcare as the primary constraints on reemployment.

House debate also touched on enforcement details: the bill clarifies that claimants would not be required to accept work that is unsuitable because it pays substantially less, is much farther away than previous employment, or requires skills the claimant does not possess. Oliver said the governor retains existing authority to suspend work-search requirements in a declared emergency.

The House adopted the changed bill and recorded final passage as amended: 76 ayes, 25 nays, 1 abstention. The sponsor moved for final passage; no individual second was recorded on the floor roll-call.

Why it matters: Supporters said the change seeks to shrink the gap between open jobs in the state and jobseekers who fail to convert applications into hires. Opponents warned the change risks penalizing people without nearby employers or reliable transportation and urged pairing any additional requirement with stronger access to ADOL training and transit funding.

Next steps: HB29, as passed by the House, will move to the Senate for consideration. The bill text and committee substitute include the ADOL training exemption and the small-county exception agreed on the House floor.