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February 1, 2021
2021-0230

Kansas legislation extends or rescinds COVID-19 unemployment insurance relief provisions

On January 27, 2021, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that due to the enactment of SB 14, which she approved on January 25, 2021, special COVID-19 unemployment insurance relief provisions are extended and/or revoked as explained below. (See also Executive Order #21-02.)

Shared work programs: temporary relief from certain restrictions during state of disaster emergency

Executive Order #20-43, originally set to expire on January 26, 2021, is now extended to the earlier of March 31, 2021, or when it is rescinded. The order provides the following temporary relief.

  • The provision in K.S.A. 44-757(d)(8) that prohibits negative-account contributing employers from participating in the Kansas shared work plan is suspended for the limited purpose of allowing these employers and their employees to participate in the short-time compensation program under §2108 of the CARES Act.

Work-search requirements

Executive Order #20-50, which took effect June 30, 2020, and expired on January 26, 2021, will not be extended. The order temporarily waived the requirement that claimants for unemployment benefits actively seek work each week as provided in K.S.A. 44-705(c) and K.S.A. 44-704b(b).

Waiting week

Executive Order #20-71, originally set to expire January 10, 2021, is extended until otherwise rescinded. Under the order, the waiting-week requirement for unemployment benefits, provided for in K.S.A. 44- 705(d), is temporarily waived for all claimants.

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Contact Information
For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:
 
Workforce Tax Services - Employment Tax Advisory Services
   • Kenneth Hausser (kenneth.hausser@ey.com)
   • Debera Salam (debera.salam@ey.com)
   • Kristie Lowery (kristie.lowery@ey.com)

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