Committee debates updating 'available for suitable employment' to count remote work searches; DEED urges advisory-council review

Senate language proposing to modify the definition of "available for suitable employment" would explicitly allow unemployment insurance claimants to conduct work searches remotely without disqualification. Senator Drayheim spoke in favor, saying it updates standards for a modern workforce.

Devin Boudry of DEED said the agency understands the intent and already administers unemployment insurance in a way that generally meets that objective, but the department's unemployment insurance team raised concerns with the draft statutory wording. DEED recommended the change be reviewed by the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council to avoid unintended consequences given federal oversight of the UI program and to craft "comfort language" if the statute is updated.

Representative Richard Baker asked for more time to study the implications for employer expectations about in-person availability and said he wanted assurance that claimants are actively looking for suitable work and able to attend in-person interviews where required. The committee set the provision aside for additional consultation with the author and DEED and did not adopt any statutory change during the session.