Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a voluntary "return to work" program for the currently unemployed.

Highlights:

• Establishes a voluntary “return to work” program that allows unemployed individuals to participate in supervised training with certain employers while they continue to receive unemployment compensation benefits (Sec. 1).

• Requires program participants to work for at least 20 hours, but no more than 32 hours, each week for a maximum of 6 weeks (Sec. 1).

• Requires employers participating in the program to be located in the state of Arizona and to provide “true” training opportunities that benefit the individual (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits employers participating in the program from paying any wages to participants (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits employers participating in the program from displacing current employees or removing promotion rights from current employees as a result of participating in the program (Sec. 1).

• Requires individual participants to meet certain eligibility criteria including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 1):
  
  • The individual is currently receiving, or is eligible to receive, unemployment benefits;
  • The individual is willing to develop new skills and work experience;
  • The individual will continue to seek work, unless exempted; and
  • The individual will certify his or her understanding that participation in the program does not guarantee any future employment by the employer.

• Repeals the “return to work” program on July 1, 2022 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text