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Committee reports HB29 favorably after public hearing on increasing job‑search requirement from three to five searches per week
Summary
The committee held a public hearing and voted to report House Bill 29 favorably; the bill would increase required weekly work‑searches for unemployment claimants in larger counties from three to five, with an exception for counties of 20,000 or fewer residents.
After a public hearing, the Senate committee gave House Bill 29 a favorable report. The bill would increase the number of weekly required work searches for unemployment claimants from three to five in counties with more than 20,000 residents; counties of 20,000 or fewer would remain at three searches under an amendment adopted in the House.
Senator Orr, carrying the bill for the House sponsor, described the proposal as a follow‑up to prior changes and argued that increasing the number of documented job searches would encourage claimants to pursue more employment opportunities. “What’s the harm in requiring a fourth and fifth application in to find a, job?” Senator Orr asked in committee.
During the public hearing opponents and committee members raised concerns about barriers that can limit a claimant’s ability to accept work, including transportation, child care, housing and life‑skills training. David Stout, who signed up to testify and identified himself on the record, called the bill “poorly conceived” and said Alabama claimants already face stringent requirements. Committee members pressed the sponsor on whether jobs were actually available and on how remote job locations and lack of transit might affect claimants’ ability to accept suitable work. The sponsor and supporters noted existing law defines “suitable work” to include reasonable distance from the claimant’s home or prior job.
A motion and second were recorded on the bill; the committee recorded a favorable report. The transcript does not show a full roll call tally for the final committee vote in the excerpt.
Why it matters: HB29 would change the compliance requirements for unemployment claimants in larger counties, and committee testimony emphasized the interplay between job‑search rules and broader barriers to employment such as transportation and child care.
Next steps: HB29 was reported favorably by the committee and will proceed according to legislative scheduling.
