1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to unemployment compensation; reviving, |
3 | readopting, and amending s. 443.1117, F.S.; providing for |
4 | retroactive application; establishing temporary state |
5 | extended benefits for weeks of unemployment; revising |
6 | definitions; providing for state extended benefits for |
7 | certain weeks and for periods of high unemployment; |
8 | providing applicability; amending s. 443.1217, F.S.; |
9 | reducing the amount of exempt wages beginning January 1, |
10 | 2010; increasing the amount of exempt wages beginning |
11 | January 1, 2012; suspending an exempt wages adjustment |
12 | when repayment of a federal advance is owed; amending s. |
13 | 443.131, F.S.; providing that a positive adjustment factor |
14 | begins January 1, 2012; providing criteria for the |
15 | determination of taxable payroll beginning January 1, |
16 | 2012; providing rate calculation direction to the taxpayer |
17 | service provider for the rate effective January 1, 2012; |
18 | requiring an employer assessment when federal advance |
19 | interest is due; requiring the Revenue Estimating |
20 | Conference to calculate interest based on certain factors |
21 | at a date certain; requiring an assessment by a date |
22 | certain; providing a formula for calculation of the |
23 | employer interest assessment rate and payment; providing |
24 | for a separate collection of such assessment by a tax |
25 | collection service provider; naming an account to hold |
26 | interest collected until payment is directed; providing |
27 | for a suspension or termination of assessment under |
28 | certain circumstances; providing credit for interest funds |
29 | collected prior to suspension or termination; providing a |
30 | limitation; providing for the elimination of provisions |
31 | that interfere with federal interest relief or federal tax |
32 | credit; amending s. 443.141; F.S.; providing retroactive |
33 | effect; providing a schedule for contributing employers to |
34 | make payments for 2010 and 2011 contributions due for |
35 | wages; providing for penalties, interest, and fees on |
36 | delinquent contributions; providing appropriations for |
37 | purposes of implementation; providing that the act |
38 | fulfills an important state interest; providing effective |
39 | dates. |
40 |
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41 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
42 |
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43 | Section 1. Notwithstanding the expiration date contained |
44 | in section 4 of chapter 2009-99, Laws of Florida, effective upon |
45 | this act becoming a law, retroactive to January 2, 2010, and |
46 | expiring February 27, 2010, section 443.1117, Florida Statutes, |
47 | is revived, readopted, and amended to read: |
48 | 443.1117 Temporary extended benefits.- |
49 | (1) APPLICABILITY OF EXTENDED BENEFITS STATUTE.-Except |
50 | when the result is inconsistent with the other provisions of |
51 | this section, the provisions of s. 443.1115(3), (4), (6), and |
52 | (7) apply to all claims covered by this section. |
53 | (2) DEFINITIONS.-For the purposes of this section, the |
54 | term: |
55 | (a) "Regular benefits" and "extended benefits" have the |
56 | same meaning as in s. 443.1115. |
57 | (b) "Eligibility period" means the period consisting of |
58 | the weeks in an individual's benefit year or emergency benefit |
59 | period which begin in an extended benefit period and, if the |
60 | benefit year or emergency benefit period ends within that |
61 | extended benefit period, any subsequent weeks beginning in that |
62 | period. |
63 | (c) "Emergency benefits" means Emergency Unemployment |
64 | Compensation paid pursuant to Pub. L. No. 110-252, Pub. L. No. |
65 | 110-449, and Pub. L. No. 111-5, Pub. L. No. 111-92, and Pub. L. |
66 | No. 111-118. |
67 | (d) "Extended benefit period" means a period that: |
68 | 1. Begins with the third week after a week for which there |
69 | is a state "on" indicator; and |
70 | 2. Ends with any of the following weeks, whichever occurs |
71 | later: |
72 | a. The third week after the first week for which there is |
73 | a state "off" indicator; |
74 | b. The 13th consecutive week of that period. |
75 |
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76 | However, an extended benefit period may not begin by reason of a |
77 | state "on" indicator before the 14th week after the end of a |
78 | prior extended benefit period that was in effect for this state. |
79 | (e) "Emergency benefit period" means the period during |
80 | which an individual receives emergency benefits as defined in |
81 | paragraph (c). |
82 | (f) "Exhaustee" means an individual who, for any week of |
83 | unemployment in her or his eligibility period: |
84 | 1. Has received, before that week, all of the regular |
85 | benefits and emergency benefits, if any, available under this |
86 | chapter or any other law, including dependents' allowances and |
87 | benefits payable to federal civilian employees and ex- |
88 | servicemembers under 5 U.S.C. ss. 8501-8525, in the current |
89 | benefit year or emergency benefit period that includes that |
90 | week. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an individual has |
91 | received all of the regular benefits and emergency benefits, if |
92 | any, available although, as a result of a pending appeal for |
93 | wages paid for insured work which were not considered in the |
94 | original monetary determination in the benefit year, she or he |
95 | may subsequently be determined to be entitled to added regular |
96 | benefits; |
97 | 2. Had a benefit year which expired before that week, and |
98 | was paid no, or insufficient, wages for insured work on the |
99 | basis of which she or he could establish a new benefit year that |
100 | includes that week; and |
101 | 3.a. Has no right to unemployment benefits or allowances |
102 | under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act or other federal |
103 | laws as specified in regulations issued by the United States |
104 | Secretary of Labor; and |
105 | b. Has not received and is not seeking unemployment |
106 | benefits under the unemployment compensation law of Canada; but |
107 | if an individual is seeking those benefits and the appropriate |
108 | agency finally determines that she or he is not entitled to |
109 | benefits under that law, she or he is considered an exhaustee. |
110 | (g) "State 'on' indicator" means, with respect to weeks of |
111 | unemployment beginning on or after February 1, 2009, and ending |
112 | on or before January 30, 2010 December 12, 2009, the occurrence |
113 | of a week in which the average total unemployment rate, |
114 | seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States |
115 | Secretary of Labor, for the period consisting of the most recent |
116 | 3 months for which data for all states are published by the |
117 | United States Department of Labor: |
118 | 1. Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those |
119 | rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in each of the |
120 | preceding 2 calendar years; and |
121 | 2. Equals or exceeds 6.5 percent. |
122 | (h) "High unemployment period" means, with respect to |
123 | weeks of unemployment beginning on or after February 1, 2009, |
124 | and ending on or before January 30, 2010 December 12, 2009, any |
125 | week in which the average total unemployment rate, seasonally |
126 | adjusted, as determined by the United States Secretary of Labor, |
127 | for the period consisting of the most recent 3 months for which |
128 | data for all states are published by the United States |
129 | Department of Labor: |
130 | 1. Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those |
131 | rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in each of the |
132 | preceding 2 calendar years; and |
133 | 2. Equals or exceeds 8 percent. |
134 | (i) "State 'off' indicator" means the occurrence of a week |
135 | in which there is no state "on" indicator or which does not |
136 | constitute a high unemployment period. |
137 | (3) TOTAL EXTENDED BENEFIT AMOUNT.-Except as provided in |
138 | subsection (4) (5): |
139 | (a) For any week for which there is an "on" indicator |
140 | pursuant to paragraph (2)(g), the total extended benefit amount |
141 | payable to an eligible individual for her or his applicable |
142 | benefit year is the lesser of: |
143 | 1. Fifty percent of the total regular benefits payable |
144 | under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or |
145 | 2. Thirteen times the weekly benefit amount payable under |
146 | this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable |
147 | benefit year. |
148 | (b) For any high unemployment period as defined in |
149 | paragraph (2)(h), the total extended benefit amount payable to |
150 | an eligible individual for her or his applicable benefit year is |
151 | the lesser of: |
152 | 1. Eighty percent of the total regular benefits payable |
153 | under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or |
154 | 2. Twenty times the weekly benefit amount payable under |
155 | this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable |
156 | benefit year. |
157 | (4) EFFECT ON TRADE READJUSTMENT.-Notwithstanding any |
158 | other provision of this chapter, if the benefit year of an |
159 | individual ends within an extended benefit period, the number of |
160 | weeks of extended benefits the individual is entitled to receive |
161 | in that extended benefit period for weeks of unemployment |
162 | beginning after the end of the benefit year, except as provided |
163 | in this section, is reduced, but not to below zero, by the |
164 | number of weeks for which the individual received, within that |
165 | benefit year, trade readjustment allowances under the Trade Act |
166 | of 1974, as amended. |
167 | Section 2. The provisions of s. 443.1117, Florida |
168 | Statutes, as revived, readopted, and amended by section 1 of |
169 | this act, apply only to claims for weeks of unemployment in |
170 | which an exhaustee establishes entitlement to extended benefits |
171 | pursuant to that section which are established for the period |
172 | between February 22, 2009, and February 27, 2010. |
173 | Section 3. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection |
174 | (2) of section 443.1217, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
175 | 443.1217 Wages.- |
176 | (1) The wages subject to this chapter include all |
177 | remuneration for employment, including commissions, bonuses, |
178 | back pay awards, and the cash value of all remuneration paid in |
179 | any medium other than cash. The reasonable cash value of |
180 | remuneration in any medium other than cash must be estimated and |
181 | determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Agency for |
182 | Workforce Innovation or the state agency providing tax |
183 | collection services. The wages subject to this chapter include |
184 | tips or gratuities received while performing services that |
185 | constitute employment and are included in a written statement |
186 | furnished to the employer under s. 6053(a) of the Internal |
187 | Revenue Code of 1954. As used in this section only, the term |
188 | "employment" includes services constituting employment under any |
189 | employment security law of another state or of the Federal |
190 | Government. |
191 | (2) For the purpose of determining an employer's |
192 | contributions, the following wages are exempt from this chapter: |
193 | (a)1. Beginning January 1, 2010, that part of remuneration |
194 | paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a |
195 | calendar year in excess of the first $7,000 of remuneration paid |
196 | to the individual by an employer or his or her predecessor |
197 | during that calendar year, unless that part of the remuneration |
198 | is subject to a tax, under a federal law imposing the tax, |
199 | against which credit may be taken for contributions required to |
200 | be paid into a state unemployment fund. |
201 | 2. Beginning January 1, 2012, that part of remuneration |
202 | paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a |
203 | calendar year in excess of the first $8,500 of remuneration paid |
204 | to the individual by the employer or his or her predecessor |
205 | during that calendar year, unless that part of the remuneration |
206 | is subject to a tax, under a federal law imposing the tax, |
207 | against which credit may be taken for contributions required to |
208 | be paid into a state unemployment fund. As used in this section |
209 | only, the term "employment" includes services constituting |
210 | employment under any employment security law of another state or |
211 | of the Federal Government. |
212 | 3. Beginning January 1, 2015, the part of remuneration |
213 | paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a |
214 | calendar year in excess of the first $7,000 of remuneration paid |
215 | to the individual by an employer or his or her predecessor |
216 | during that calendar year, unless that part of the remuneration |
217 | is subject to a tax, under a federal law imposing the tax, |
218 | against which credit may be taken for contributions required to |
219 | be paid into a state unemployment fund. The wage base exemption |
220 | adjustment authorized by this subparagraph shall be suspended in |
221 | any calendar year in which repayment of the principal amount of |
222 | an advance received from the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
223 | Fund under 42 U.S.C. s. 1321 is due to the Federal Government is |
224 | exempt from this chapter. |
225 | Section 4. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section |
226 | 443.131, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsections (5) and |
227 | (6) are added to that section, to read: |
228 | 443.131 Contributions.- |
229 | (3) VARIATION OF CONTRIBUTION RATES BASED ON BENEFIT |
230 | EXPERIENCE.- |
231 | (e) Assignment of variations from the standard rate.-For |
232 | the calculation of contribution rates effective January 1, 2010, |
233 | and thereafter: |
234 | 1. The tax collection service provider shall assign a |
235 | variation from the standard rate of contributions for each |
236 | calendar year to each eligible employer. In determining the |
237 | contribution rate, varying from the standard rate to be assigned |
238 | each employer, adjustment factors computed under sub- |
239 | subparagraphs a.-d. shall be added to the benefit ratio. This |
240 | addition shall be accomplished in two steps by adding a variable |
241 | adjustment factor and a final adjustment factor. The sum of |
242 | these adjustment factors computed under sub-subparagraphs a.-d. |
243 | shall first be algebraically summed. The sum of these adjustment |
244 | factors shall next be divided by a gross benefit ratio |
245 | determined as follows: Total benefit payments for the 3-year |
246 | period described in subparagraph (b)2. shall be charged to |
247 | employers eligible for a variation from the standard rate, minus |
248 | excess payments for the same period, divided by taxable payroll |
249 | entering into the computation of individual benefit ratios for |
250 | the calendar year for which the contribution rate is being |
251 | computed. The ratio of the sum of the adjustment factors |
252 | computed under sub-subparagraphs a.-d. to the gross benefit |
253 | ratio shall be multiplied by each individual benefit ratio that |
254 | is less than the maximum contribution rate to obtain variable |
255 | adjustment factors; except that in any instance in which the sum |
256 | of an employer's individual benefit ratio and variable |
257 | adjustment factor exceeds the maximum contribution rate, the |
258 | variable adjustment factor shall be reduced in order that the |
259 | sum equals the maximum contribution rate. The variable |
260 | adjustment factor for each of these employers is multiplied by |
261 | his or her taxable payroll entering into the computation of his |
262 | or her benefit ratio. The sum of these products shall be divided |
263 | by the taxable payroll of the employers who entered into the |
264 | computation of their benefit ratios. The resulting ratio shall |
265 | be subtracted from the sum of the adjustment factors computed |
266 | under sub-subparagraphs a.-d. to obtain the final adjustment |
267 | factor. The variable adjustment factors and the final adjustment |
268 | factor shall be computed to five decimal places and rounded to |
269 | the fourth decimal place. This final adjustment factor shall be |
270 | added to the variable adjustment factor and benefit ratio of |
271 | each employer to obtain each employer's contribution rate. An |
272 | employer's contribution rate may not, however, be rounded to |
273 | less than 0.1 percent. |
274 | a. An adjustment factor for noncharge benefits shall be |
275 | computed to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth |
276 | decimal place by dividing the amount of noncharge benefits |
277 | during the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)2. by the |
278 | taxable payroll of employers eligible for a variation from the |
279 | standard rate who have a benefit ratio for the current year |
280 | which is less than the maximum contribution rate. For purposes |
281 | of computing this adjustment factor, the taxable payroll of |
282 | these employers is the taxable payrolls for the 3 years ending |
283 | June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax |
284 | collection service provider by September 30 of the same calendar |
285 | year. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term "noncharge |
286 | benefits" means benefits paid to an individual from the |
287 | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, but which were not charged |
288 | to the employment record of any employer. |
289 | b. An adjustment factor for excess payments shall be |
290 | computed to the fifth decimal place, and rounded to the fourth |
291 | decimal place by dividing the total excess payments during the |
292 | 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)2. by the taxable |
293 | payroll of employers eligible for a variation from the standard |
294 | rate who have a benefit ratio for the current year which is less |
295 | than the maximum contribution rate. For purposes of computing |
296 | this adjustment factor, the taxable payroll of these employers |
297 | is the same figure used to compute the adjustment factor for |
298 | noncharge benefits under sub-subparagraph a. As used in this |
299 | sub-subparagraph, the term "excess payments" means the amount of |
300 | benefits charged to the employment record of an employer during |
301 | the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)2., less the |
302 | product of the maximum contribution rate and the employer's |
303 | taxable payroll for the 3 years ending June 30 of the current |
304 | calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider |
305 | by September 30 of the same calendar year. As used in this sub- |
306 | subparagraph, the term "total excess payments" means the sum of |
307 | the individual employer excess payments for those employers that |
308 | were eligible to be considered for assignment of a contribution |
309 | rate different from the standard rate. |
310 | c.(I) Beginning January 1, 2012, if the balance of the |
311 | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund on June 30 of the calendar |
312 | year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the |
313 | contribution rate is being computed is less than 4 percent of |
314 | the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 as reported to |
315 | the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that |
316 | calendar year, a positive adjustment factor shall be computed. |
317 | The positive adjustment factor shall be computed annually to the |
318 | fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by |
319 | dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year |
320 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the |
321 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar |
322 | year into a sum equal to one-third of the difference between the |
323 | balance of the fund as of June 30 of that calendar year and the |
324 | sum of 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls for that year. |
325 | The positive adjustment factor remains in effect for subsequent |
326 | years until the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
327 | Fund as of June 30 of the year immediately preceding the |
328 | effective date of the contribution rate equals or exceeds 5 |
329 | percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of |
330 | the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection |
331 | service provider by September 30 of that calendar year. |
332 | (II) Beginning January 1, 2015, and for each year |
333 | thereafter, the positive adjustment authorized by this section |
334 | shall be computed by dividing the sum of the total taxable |
335 | payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar |
336 | year as reported to the tax collection service provider by |
337 | September 30 of that calendar year into a sum equal to one- |
338 | fourth of the difference between the balance of the fund as of |
339 | June 30 of that calendar year and the sum of 5 percent of the |
340 | total taxable payrolls for that year. The positive adjustment |
341 | factor remains in effect for subsequent years until the balance |
342 | of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund as of June 30 of the |
343 | year immediately preceding the effective date of the |
344 | contribution rate equals or exceeds 4 percent of the taxable |
345 | payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar |
346 | year as reported to the tax collection service provider by |
347 | September 30 of that calendar year. |
348 | d. If, beginning January 1, 2015, and each year |
349 | thereafter, the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
350 | Fund as of June 30 of the year immediately preceding the |
351 | calendar year for which the contribution rate is being computed |
352 | exceeds 5 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending |
353 | June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax |
354 | collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar |
355 | year, a negative adjustment factor shall be computed. The |
356 | negative adjustment factor shall be computed annually beginning |
357 | on January 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, to the fifth |
358 | decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by |
359 | dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year |
360 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the |
361 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of the calendar |
362 | year into a sum equal to one-fourth of the difference between |
363 | the balance of the fund as of June 30 of the current calendar |
364 | year and 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls of that year. |
365 | The negative adjustment factor remains in effect for subsequent |
366 | years until the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
367 | Fund as of June 30 of the year immediately preceding the |
368 | effective date of the contribution rate is less than 5 percent, |
369 | but more than 4 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year |
370 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the |
371 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar |
372 | year. The negative adjustment authorized by this section is |
373 | suspended in any calendar year in which repayment of the |
374 | principal amount of an advance received from the federal |
375 | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund under 42 U.S.C. s. 1321 is |
376 | due to the Federal Government. |
377 | e. The maximum contribution rate that may be assigned to |
378 | an employer is 5.4 percent, except employers participating in an |
379 | approved short-time compensation plan may be assigned a maximum |
380 | contribution rate that is 1 percent greater than the maximum |
381 | contribution rate for other employers in any calendar year in |
382 | which short-time compensation benefits are charged to the |
383 | employer's employment record. |
384 | f. As used in this subsection, "taxable payroll" shall be |
385 | determined by excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an |
386 | individual by an employer for employment during a calendar year |
387 | in excess of the first $7,000. Beginning January 1, 2012, |
388 | "taxable payroll" shall be determined by excluding any part of |
389 | the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for |
390 | employment during a calendar year in excess of the amount exempt |
391 | from this chapter as described in s. 443.1217(2). For the |
392 | purposes of the employer rate calculation that will take effect |
393 | January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2013, the taxpayer service |
394 | provider shall use the data available for taxable payroll from |
395 | 2009 based on excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an |
396 | individual by an employer for employment during a calendar year |
397 | in excess of the first $7,000, and for 2010 and 2011, the data |
398 | available for taxable payroll based on excluding any part of the |
399 | remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for employment |
400 | during a calendar year in excess of the first $8,500. |
401 | 2. If the transfer of an employer's employment record to |
402 | an employing unit under paragraph (f) which, before the |
403 | transfer, was an employer, the tax collection service provider |
404 | shall recompute a benefit ratio for the successor employer based |
405 | on the combined employment records and reassign an appropriate |
406 | contribution rate to the successor employer effective on the |
407 | first day of the calendar quarter immediately after the |
408 | effective date of the transfer. |
409 | (5) ADDITIONAL RATE FOR INTEREST ON FEDERAL ADVANCES.- |
410 | (a) When the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund has |
411 | received advances from the Federal Government under the |
412 | provisions of 42 U.S.C. s. 1321, each contributing employer |
413 | shall be assessed an additional rate solely for the purpose of |
414 | paying interest due on such federal advances. The additional |
415 | rate shall be assessed no later than February 1 in each calendar |
416 | year in which an interest payment is due. The Revenue Estimating |
417 | Conference shall estimate the amount of such interest no later |
418 | than December 1 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year |
419 | in which an interest payment is due. The Revenue Estimating |
420 | Conference shall, at a minimum, consider the following as the |
421 | basis for the estimate: |
422 | 1. The amounts actually advanced to the trust fund. |
423 | 2. Amounts expected to be advanced to the trust fund based |
424 | on current and projected unemployment patterns and employer |
425 | contributions. |
426 | 3. The interest payment due date. |
427 | 4. The interest rate that will be applied by the Federal |
428 | Government to any accrued outstanding balances. |
429 | (b) The additional rate assessed for a calendar year shall |
430 | be determined by dividing the estimated amount of interest to be |
431 | paid in that year by 95 percent of the taxable wages as |
432 | described in s. 443.1217 paid by all employers for the year |
433 | ending June 30 of the immediately preceding calendar year. The |
434 | amount to be paid by each employer shall be the product obtained |
435 | by multiplying such employer's taxable wages as described in s. |
436 | 443.1217 for the year ending June 30 of the immediately |
437 | preceding calendar year by the rate as determined by this |
438 | subsection. The tax collection service provider shall make a |
439 | separate collection of such assessment, which may be collected |
440 | at the time of employer contributions and subject to the same |
441 | penalties for failure to file a report, imposition of the |
442 | standard rate pursuant to paragraph (3)(h), and interest if the |
443 | assessment is not received on or before June 30. The tax |
444 | collection service provider shall maintain those funds in the |
445 | tax collection service provider's Audit and Warrant Clearing |
446 | Trust Fund until the provider is directed to make the interest |
447 | payment to the Federal Government. However, if the state is |
448 | permitted to defer interest payments due during a calendar year |
449 | under 42 U.S.C. s. 1322, payment of the interest assessment |
450 | shall not be due. If a deferral of interest expires or is |
451 | subsequently disallowed by the Federal Government, either |
452 | prospectively or retroactively, the interest assessment shall be |
453 | immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding any other provision |
454 | of this section, if interest due during a calendar year on |
455 | federal advances is forgiven or postponed under federal law and |
456 | is no longer due during that calendar year, no interest |
457 | assessment shall be assessed against an employer for that |
458 | calendar year, and any assessment already assessed and collected |
459 | against an employer before the forgiveness or postponement of |
460 | the interest for that calendar year shall be credited to such |
461 | employer's account in the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. |
462 | However, such funds may be used only to pay benefits or refunds |
463 | of erroneous contributions. |
464 | (6) INVALIDITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS.-If any provision of |
465 | this section prevents the state from qualifying for any federal |
466 | interest relief provisions provided under s. 1202 of the Social |
467 | Security Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 1322, or prevents employers in this |
468 | state from qualifying for the limitation on credit reduction as |
469 | provided under s. 3302(f) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, |
470 | 26 U.S.C. s. 3302(f), that provision is invalid to the extent |
471 | necessary to maintain qualification for the interest relief |
472 | provisions and federal unemployment tax credits. |
473 | Section 5. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and |
474 | retroactive to January 1, 2010, paragraphs (d) and (e) are added |
475 | to subsection (1) of section 443.141, Florida Statutes, to read: |
476 | 443.141 Collection of contributions and reimbursements.- |
477 | (1) PAST DUE CONTRIBUTIONS AND REIMBURSEMENTS.- |
478 | (d) Payments for 2010 contributions.-A contributing |
479 | employer may pay its quarterly contributions due for wages paid |
480 | in the first three quarters of 2010 in equal installments, |
481 | provided those contributions are paid as follows: |
482 | 1. For contributions due for wages paid in the first |
483 | quarter of 2010, one-fourth of the contributions due shall be |
484 | paid on or before April 30, 2010, one-fourth shall be paid on or |
485 | before July 31, 2010, one-fourth shall be paid on or before |
486 | October 31, 2010, and the remaining one-fourth shall be paid on |
487 | or before December 31, 2010. |
488 | 2. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraph |
489 | 1., for contributions due for wages paid in the second quarter |
490 | of 2010, one-third of the contributions due shall be paid on or |
491 | before July 31, 2010, one-third shall be paid on or before |
492 | October 31, 2010, and the remaining one-third shall be paid on |
493 | or before December 31, 2010. |
494 | 3. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraphs |
495 | 1. and 2., for contributions due for wages paid in the third |
496 | quarter of 2010, one-half of the contributions due shall be paid |
497 | on or before October 31, 2010, and the remaining one-half shall |
498 | be paid on or before December 31, 2010. |
499 | |
500 | Interest shall not accrue on any contribution that becomes due |
501 | for wages paid in the first three quarters of 2010 provided the |
502 | employer pays the contributions in accordance with subparagraphs |
503 | 1.-3. Interest and fees shall continue to accrue on prior |
504 | delinquent contributions and shall commence to accrue on all |
505 | contributions due for wages paid in the first three quarters of |
506 | 2010 that are not paid in accordance with subparagraphs 1.-3. |
507 | Penalties may be assessed in accordance with the provisions of |
508 | this chapter. The contributions due for wages paid in the fourth |
509 | quarter of 2010 are not affected by this paragraph and are due |
510 | and payable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. |
511 | (e) Payments for 2011 contributions.-A contributing |
512 | employer may pay its quarterly contributions due for wages paid |
513 | in the first three quarters of 2011 in equal installments, |
514 | provided those contributions are paid as follows: |
515 | 1. For contributions due for wages paid in the first |
516 | quarter of 2011, one-fourth of the contributions due shall be |
517 | paid on or before April 30, 2011, one-fourth shall be paid on or |
518 | before July 31, 2011, one-fourth shall be paid on or before |
519 | October 31, 2011, and the remaining one-fourth shall be paid on |
520 | or before December 31, 2011. |
521 | 2. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraph |
522 | 1., for contributions due for wages paid in the second quarter |
523 | of 2011, one-third of the contributions due shall be paid on or |
524 | before July 31, 2011, one-third shall be paid on or before |
525 | October 31, 2011, and the remaining one-third shall be paid on |
526 | or before December 31, 2011. |
527 | 3. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraphs |
528 | 1. and 2., for contributions due for wages paid in the third |
529 | quarter of 2011, one-half of the contributions due shall be paid |
530 | on or before October 31, 2011, and the remaining one-half shall |
531 | be paid on or before December 31, 2011. |
532 | |
533 | Interest shall not accrue on any contribution that becomes due |
534 | for wages paid in the first three quarters of 2011 provided the |
535 | employer pays the contributions in accordance with subparagraphs |
536 | 1.-3. Interest and fees shall continue to accrue on prior |
537 | delinquent contributions and shall commence to accrue on all |
538 | contributions due for wages paid in the first three quarters of |
539 | 2011 that are not paid in accordance with subparagraphs 1.-3. |
540 | Penalties may be assessed in accordance with the provisions of |
541 | this chapter. The contributions due for wages paid in the fourth |
542 | quarter of 2011 are not affected by this paragraph and are due |
543 | and payable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. |
544 | Section 6. For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the sum of |
545 | $1,269,817 is appropriated from the Employment Security |
546 | Administration Trust Fund in the contracted services |
547 | appropriation category within the Agency for Workforce |
548 | Innovation's Unemployment Compensation budget entity to be used |
549 | to implement this act. In addition, for the 2009-2010 fiscal |
550 | year, the sum of $1,269,817 is appropriated from the Federal |
551 | Grants Trust Fund in a lump sum appropriation category within |
552 | the Department of Revenue to be used to implement this act. |
553 | Section 7. The Legislature finds that this act fulfills an |
554 | important state interest. |
555 | Section 8. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
556 | act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law, retroactive |
557 | to June 29, 2009. |