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 tax |
17 | collection service provider for the rate effective January |
18 | 1, 2012; requiring an employer assessment when federal |
19 | advance 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 credit of excess interest funds collected; providing |
28 | for a suspension or termination of assessment under |
29 | certain circumstances; providing credit for interest funds |
30 | collected prior to suspension or termination; providing a |
31 | limitation; providing for the elimination of provisions |
32 | that interfere with federal interest relief or federal tax |
33 | credit; amending s. 443.141; F.S.; providing retroactive |
34 | effect; providing a schedule for contributing employers to |
35 | make payments for 2010 and 2011 contributions due for |
36 | wages; requiring a contributing employer to pay a fee of |
37 | up to $5 to participate in the new schedule; providing for |
38 | penalties, interest, and fees on delinquent contributions; |
39 | providing appropriations for purposes of implementation; |
40 | providing that the act fulfills an important state |
41 | interest; providing an effective date. |
42 |
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43 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
44 |
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45 | Section 1. Notwithstanding the expiration date contained |
46 | in section 4 of chapter 2009-99, Laws of Florida, effective upon |
47 | this act becoming a law, retroactive to January 2, 2010, and |
48 | expiring February 27, 2010, section 443.1117, Florida Statutes, |
49 | is revived, readopted, and amended to read: |
50 | 443.1117 Temporary extended benefits.- |
51 | (1) APPLICABILITY OF EXTENDED BENEFITS STATUTE.-Except |
52 | when the result is inconsistent with the other provisions of |
53 | this section, the provisions of s. 443.1115(3), (4), (6), and |
54 | (7) apply to all claims covered by this section. |
55 | (2) DEFINITIONS.-For the purposes of this section, the |
56 | term: |
57 | (a) "Regular benefits" and "extended benefits" have the |
58 | same meaning as in s. 443.1115. |
59 | (b) "Eligibility period" means the period consisting of |
60 | the weeks in an individual's benefit year or emergency benefit |
61 | period which begin in an extended benefit period and, if the |
62 | benefit year or emergency benefit period ends within that |
63 | extended benefit period, any subsequent weeks beginning in that |
64 | period. |
65 | (c) "Emergency benefits" means Emergency Unemployment |
66 | Compensation paid pursuant to Pub. L. No. 110-252, Pub. L. No. |
67 | 110-449, and Pub. L. No. 111-5, Pub. L. No. 111-92, and Pub. L. |
68 | No. 111-118. |
69 | (d) "Extended benefit period" means a period that: |
70 | 1. Begins with the third week after a week for which there |
71 | is a state "on" indicator; and |
72 | 2. Ends with any of the following weeks, whichever occurs |
73 | later: |
74 | a. The third week after the first week for which there is |
75 | a state "off" indicator; |
76 | b. The 13th consecutive week of that period. |
77 |
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78 | However, an extended benefit period may not begin by reason of a |
79 | state "on" indicator before the 14th week after the end of a |
80 | prior extended benefit period that was in effect for this state. |
81 | (e) "Emergency benefit period" means the period during |
82 | which an individual receives emergency benefits as defined in |
83 | paragraph (c). |
84 | (f) "Exhaustee" means an individual who, for any week of |
85 | unemployment in her or his eligibility period: |
86 | 1. Has received, before that week, all of the regular |
87 | benefits and emergency benefits, if any, available under this |
88 | chapter or any other law, including dependents' allowances and |
89 | benefits payable to federal civilian employees and ex- |
90 | servicemembers under 5 U.S.C. ss. 8501-8525, in the current |
91 | benefit year or emergency benefit period that includes that |
92 | week. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an individual has |
93 | received all of the regular benefits and emergency benefits, if |
94 | any, available although, as a result of a pending appeal for |
95 | wages paid for insured work which were not considered in the |
96 | original monetary determination in the benefit year, she or he |
97 | may subsequently be determined to be entitled to added regular |
98 | benefits; |
99 | 2. Had a benefit year which expired before that week, and |
100 | was paid no, or insufficient, wages for insured work on the |
101 | basis of which she or he could establish a new benefit year that |
102 | includes that week; and |
103 | 3.a. Has no right to unemployment benefits or allowances |
104 | under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act or other federal |
105 | laws as specified in regulations issued by the United States |
106 | Secretary of Labor; and |
107 | b. Has not received and is not seeking unemployment |
108 | benefits under the unemployment compensation law of Canada; but |
109 | if an individual is seeking those benefits and the appropriate |
110 | agency finally determines that she or he is not entitled to |
111 | benefits under that law, she or he is considered an exhaustee. |
112 | (g) "State 'on' indicator" means, with respect to weeks of |
113 | unemployment beginning on or after February 1, 2009, and ending |
114 | on or before January 30, 2010 December 12, 2009, the occurrence |
115 | of a week in which the average total unemployment rate, |
116 | seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States |
117 | Secretary of Labor, for the period consisting of the most recent |
118 | 3 months for which data for all states are published by the |
119 | United States Department of Labor: |
120 | 1. Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those |
121 | rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in each of the |
122 | preceding 2 calendar years; and |
123 | 2. Equals or exceeds 6.5 percent. |
124 | (h) "High unemployment period" means, with respect to |
125 | weeks of unemployment beginning on or after February 1, 2009, |
126 | and ending on or before January 30, 2010 December 12, 2009, any |
127 | week in which the average total unemployment rate, seasonally |
128 | adjusted, as determined by the United States Secretary of Labor, |
129 | for the period consisting of the most recent 3 months for which |
130 | data for all states are published by the United States |
131 | Department of Labor: |
132 | 1. Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those |
133 | rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in each of the |
134 | preceding 2 calendar years; and |
135 | 2. Equals or exceeds 8 percent. |
136 | (i) "State 'off' indicator" means the occurrence of a week |
137 | in which there is no state "on" indicator or which does not |
138 | constitute a high unemployment period. |
139 | (3) TOTAL EXTENDED BENEFIT AMOUNT.-Except as provided in |
140 | subsection (4) (5): |
141 | (a) For any week for which there is an "on" indicator |
142 | pursuant to paragraph (2)(g), the total extended benefit amount |
143 | payable to an eligible individual for her or his applicable |
144 | benefit year is the lesser of: |
145 | 1. Fifty percent of the total regular benefits payable |
146 | under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or |
147 | 2. Thirteen times the weekly benefit amount payable under |
148 | this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable |
149 | benefit year. |
150 | (b) For any high unemployment period as defined in |
151 | paragraph (2)(h), the total extended benefit amount payable to |
152 | an eligible individual for her or his applicable benefit year is |
153 | the lesser of: |
154 | 1. Eighty percent of the total regular benefits payable |
155 | under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or |
156 | 2. Twenty times the weekly benefit amount payable under |
157 | this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable |
158 | benefit year. |
159 | (4) EFFECT ON TRADE READJUSTMENT.-Notwithstanding any |
160 | other provision of this chapter, if the benefit year of an |
161 | individual ends within an extended benefit period, the number of |
162 | weeks of extended benefits the individual is entitled to receive |
163 | in that extended benefit period for weeks of unemployment |
164 | beginning after the end of the benefit year, except as provided |
165 | in this section, is reduced, but not to below zero, by the |
166 | number of weeks for which the individual received, within that |
167 | benefit year, trade readjustment allowances under the Trade Act |
168 | of 1974, as amended. |
169 | Section 2. The provisions of s. 443.1117, Florida |
170 | Statutes, as revived, readopted, and amended by section 1 of |
171 | this act, apply only to claims for weeks of unemployment in |
172 | which an exhaustee establishes entitlement to extended benefits |
173 | pursuant to that section which are established for the period |
174 | between February 22, 2009, and February 27, 2010. |
175 | Section 3. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection |
176 | (2) of section 443.1217, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
177 | 443.1217 Wages.- |
178 | (1) The wages subject to this chapter include all |
179 | remuneration for employment, including commissions, bonuses, |
180 | back pay awards, and the cash value of all remuneration paid in |
181 | any medium other than cash. The reasonable cash value of |
182 | remuneration in any medium other than cash must be estimated and |
183 | determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Agency for |
184 | Workforce Innovation or the state agency providing tax |
185 | collection services. The wages subject to this chapter include |
186 | tips or gratuities received while performing services that |
187 | constitute employment and are included in a written statement |
188 | furnished to the employer under s. 6053(a) of the Internal |
189 | Revenue Code of 1954. As used in this section only, the term |
190 | "employment" includes services constituting employment under any |
191 | employment security law of another state or of the Federal |
192 | Government. |
193 | (2) For the purpose of determining an employer's |
194 | contributions, the following wages are exempt from this chapter: |
195 | (a)1. Beginning January 1, 2010, that part of remuneration |
196 | paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a |
197 | calendar year in excess of the first $7,000 of remuneration paid |
198 | to the individual by an employer or his or her predecessor |
199 | during that calendar year, unless that part of the remuneration |
200 | is subject to a tax, under a federal law imposing the tax, |
201 | against which credit may be taken for contributions required to |
202 | be paid into a state unemployment fund. |
203 | 2. Beginning January 1, 2012, that part of remuneration |
204 | paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a |
205 | calendar year in excess of the first $8,500 of remuneration paid |
206 | to the individual by the employer or his or her predecessor |
207 | during that calendar year, unless that part of the remuneration |
208 | is subject to a tax, under a federal law imposing the tax, |
209 | against which credit may be taken for contributions required to |
210 | be paid into a state unemployment fund. As used in this section |
211 | only, the term "employment" includes services constituting |
212 | employment under any employment security law of another state or |
213 | of the Federal Government. |
214 | 3. Beginning January 1, 2015, the part of remuneration |
215 | paid to an individual by an employer for employment during a |
216 | calendar year in excess of the first $7,000 of remuneration paid |
217 | to the individual by an employer or his or her predecessor |
218 | during that calendar year, unless that part of the remuneration |
219 | is subject to a tax, under a federal law imposing the tax, |
220 | against which credit may be taken for contributions required to |
221 | be paid into a state unemployment fund. The wage base exemption |
222 | adjustment authorized by this subparagraph shall be suspended in |
223 | any calendar year in which repayment of the principal amount of |
224 | an advance received from the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
225 | Fund under 42 U.S.C. s. 1321 is due to the Federal Government is |
226 | exempt from this chapter. |
227 | Section 4. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section |
228 | 443.131, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsections (5) and |
229 | (6) are added to that section, to read: |
230 | 443.131 Contributions.- |
231 | (3) VARIATION OF CONTRIBUTION RATES BASED ON BENEFIT |
232 | EXPERIENCE.- |
233 | (e) Assignment of variations from the standard rate.-For |
234 | the calculation of contribution rates effective January 1, 2010, |
235 | and thereafter: |
236 | 1. The tax collection service provider shall assign a |
237 | variation from the standard rate of contributions for each |
238 | calendar year to each eligible employer. In determining the |
239 | contribution rate, varying from the standard rate to be assigned |
240 | each employer, adjustment factors computed under sub- |
241 | subparagraphs a.-d. shall be added to the benefit ratio. This |
242 | addition shall be accomplished in two steps by adding a variable |
243 | adjustment factor and a final adjustment factor. The sum of |
244 | these adjustment factors computed under sub-subparagraphs a.-d. |
245 | shall first be algebraically summed. The sum of these adjustment |
246 | factors shall next be divided by a gross benefit ratio |
247 | determined as follows: Total benefit payments for the 3-year |
248 | period described in subparagraph (b)2. shall be charged to |
249 | employers eligible for a variation from the standard rate, minus |
250 | excess payments for the same period, divided by taxable payroll |
251 | entering into the computation of individual benefit ratios for |
252 | the calendar year for which the contribution rate is being |
253 | computed. The ratio of the sum of the adjustment factors |
254 | computed under sub-subparagraphs a.-d. to the gross benefit |
255 | ratio shall be multiplied by each individual benefit ratio that |
256 | is less than the maximum contribution rate to obtain variable |
257 | adjustment factors; except that in any instance in which the sum |
258 | of an employer's individual benefit ratio and variable |
259 | adjustment factor exceeds the maximum contribution rate, the |
260 | variable adjustment factor shall be reduced in order that the |
261 | sum equals the maximum contribution rate. The variable |
262 | adjustment factor for each of these employers is multiplied by |
263 | his or her taxable payroll entering into the computation of his |
264 | or her benefit ratio. The sum of these products shall be divided |
265 | by the taxable payroll of the employers who entered into the |
266 | computation of their benefit ratios. The resulting ratio shall |
267 | be subtracted from the sum of the adjustment factors computed |
268 | under sub-subparagraphs a.-d. to obtain the final adjustment |
269 | factor. The variable adjustment factors and the final adjustment |
270 | factor shall be computed to five decimal places and rounded to |
271 | the fourth decimal place. This final adjustment factor shall be |
272 | added to the variable adjustment factor and benefit ratio of |
273 | each employer to obtain each employer's contribution rate. An |
274 | employer's contribution rate may not, however, be rounded to |
275 | less than 0.1 percent. |
276 | a. An adjustment factor for noncharge benefits shall be |
277 | computed to the fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth |
278 | decimal place by dividing the amount of noncharge benefits |
279 | during the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)2. by the |
280 | taxable payroll of employers eligible for a variation from the |
281 | standard rate who have a benefit ratio for the current year |
282 | which is less than the maximum contribution rate. For purposes |
283 | of computing this adjustment factor, the taxable payroll of |
284 | these employers is the taxable payrolls for the 3 years ending |
285 | June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax |
286 | collection service provider by September 30 of the same calendar |
287 | year. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term "noncharge |
288 | benefits" means benefits paid to an individual from the |
289 | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, but which were not charged |
290 | to the employment record of any employer. |
291 | b. An adjustment factor for excess payments shall be |
292 | computed to the fifth decimal place, and rounded to the fourth |
293 | decimal place by dividing the total excess payments during the |
294 | 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)2. by the taxable |
295 | payroll of employers eligible for a variation from the standard |
296 | rate who have a benefit ratio for the current year which is less |
297 | than the maximum contribution rate. For purposes of computing |
298 | this adjustment factor, the taxable payroll of these employers |
299 | is the same figure used to compute the adjustment factor for |
300 | noncharge benefits under sub-subparagraph a. As used in this |
301 | sub-subparagraph, the term "excess payments" means the amount of |
302 | benefits charged to the employment record of an employer during |
303 | the 3-year period described in subparagraph (b)2., less the |
304 | product of the maximum contribution rate and the employer's |
305 | taxable payroll for the 3 years ending June 30 of the current |
306 | calendar year as reported to the tax collection service provider |
307 | by September 30 of the same calendar year. As used in this sub- |
308 | subparagraph, the term "total excess payments" means the sum of |
309 | the individual employer excess payments for those employers that |
310 | were eligible to be considered for assignment of a contribution |
311 | rate different from the standard rate. |
312 | c.(I) Beginning January 1, 2012, if the balance of the |
313 | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund on June 30 of the calendar |
314 | year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the |
315 | contribution rate is being computed is less than 4 percent of |
316 | the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 as reported to |
317 | the tax collection service provider by September 30 of that |
318 | calendar year, a positive adjustment factor shall be computed. |
319 | The positive adjustment factor shall be computed annually to the |
320 | fifth decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by |
321 | dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year |
322 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the |
323 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar |
324 | year into a sum equal to one-third of the difference between the |
325 | balance of the fund as of June 30 of that calendar year and the |
326 | sum of 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls for that year. |
327 | The positive adjustment factor remains in effect for subsequent |
328 | years until the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
329 | Fund as of June 30 of the year immediately preceding the |
330 | effective date of the contribution rate equals or exceeds 5 |
331 | percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending June 30 of |
332 | the current calendar year as reported to the tax collection |
333 | service provider by September 30 of that calendar year. |
334 | (II) Beginning January 1, 2015, and for each year |
335 | thereafter, the positive adjustment authorized by this section |
336 | shall be computed by dividing the sum of the total taxable |
337 | payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar |
338 | year as reported to the tax collection service provider by |
339 | September 30 of that calendar year into a sum equal to one- |
340 | fourth of the difference between the balance of the fund as of |
341 | June 30 of that calendar year and the sum of 5 percent of the |
342 | total taxable payrolls for that year. The positive adjustment |
343 | factor remains in effect for subsequent years until the balance |
344 | of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund as of June 30 of the |
345 | year immediately preceding the effective date of the |
346 | contribution rate equals or exceeds 4 percent of the taxable |
347 | payrolls for the year ending June 30 of the current calendar |
348 | year as reported to the tax collection service provider by |
349 | September 30 of that calendar year. |
350 | d. If, beginning January 1, 2015, and each year |
351 | thereafter, the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
352 | Fund as of June 30 of the year immediately preceding the |
353 | calendar year for which the contribution rate is being computed |
354 | exceeds 5 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year ending |
355 | June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the tax |
356 | collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar |
357 | year, a negative adjustment factor shall be computed. The |
358 | negative adjustment factor shall be computed annually beginning |
359 | on January 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, to the fifth |
360 | decimal place and rounded to the fourth decimal place by |
361 | dividing the sum of the total taxable payrolls for the year |
362 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the |
363 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of the calendar |
364 | year into a sum equal to one-fourth of the difference between |
365 | the balance of the fund as of June 30 of the current calendar |
366 | year and 5 percent of the total taxable payrolls of that year. |
367 | The negative adjustment factor remains in effect for subsequent |
368 | years until the balance of the Unemployment Compensation Trust |
369 | Fund as of June 30 of the year immediately preceding the |
370 | effective date of the contribution rate is less than 5 percent, |
371 | but more than 4 percent of the taxable payrolls for the year |
372 | ending June 30 of the current calendar year as reported to the |
373 | tax collection service provider by September 30 of that calendar |
374 | year. The negative adjustment authorized by this section is |
375 | suspended in any calendar year in which repayment of the |
376 | principal amount of an advance received from the federal |
377 | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund under 42 U.S.C. s. 1321 is |
378 | due to the Federal Government. |
379 | e. The maximum contribution rate that may be assigned to |
380 | an employer is 5.4 percent, except employers participating in an |
381 | approved short-time compensation plan may be assigned a maximum |
382 | contribution rate that is 1 percent greater than the maximum |
383 | contribution rate for other employers in any calendar year in |
384 | which short-time compensation benefits are charged to the |
385 | employer's employment record. |
386 | f. As used in this subsection, "taxable payroll" shall be |
387 | determined by excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an |
388 | individual by an employer for employment during a calendar year |
389 | in excess of the first $7,000. Beginning January 1, 2012, |
390 | "taxable payroll" shall be determined by excluding any part of |
391 | the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for |
392 | employment during a calendar year as described in s. |
393 | 443.1217(2). For the purposes of the employer rate calculation |
394 | that will take effect January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2013, the |
395 | tax collection service provider shall use the data available for |
396 | taxable payroll from 2009 based on excluding any part of the |
397 | remuneration paid to an individual by an employer for employment |
398 | during a calendar year in excess of the first $7,000, and for |
399 | 2010 and 2011, the data available for taxable payroll based on |
400 | excluding any part of the remuneration paid to an individual by |
401 | an employer for employment during a calendar year in excess of |
402 | the first $8,500. |
403 | 2. If the transfer of an employer's employment record to |
404 | an employing unit under paragraph (f) which, before the |
405 | transfer, was an employer, the tax collection service provider |
406 | shall recompute a benefit ratio for the successor employer based |
407 | on the combined employment records and reassign an appropriate |
408 | contribution rate to the successor employer effective on the |
409 | first day of the calendar quarter immediately after the |
410 | effective date of the transfer. |
411 | (5) ADDITIONAL RATE FOR INTEREST ON FEDERAL ADVANCES.- |
412 | (a) When the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund has |
413 | received advances from the Federal Government under the |
414 | provisions of 42 U.S.C. s. 1321, each contributing employer |
415 | shall be assessed an additional rate solely for the purpose of |
416 | paying interest due on such federal advances. The additional |
417 | rate shall be assessed no later than February 1 in each calendar |
418 | year in which an interest payment is due. The Revenue Estimating |
419 | Conference shall estimate the amount of such interest no later |
420 | than December 1 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year |
421 | in which an interest payment is due. The Revenue Estimating |
422 | Conference shall, at a minimum, consider the following as the |
423 | basis for the estimate: |
424 | 1. The amounts actually advanced to the trust fund. |
425 | 2. Amounts expected to be advanced to the trust fund based |
426 | on current and projected unemployment patterns and employer |
427 | contributions. |
428 | 3. The interest payment due date. |
429 | 4. The interest rate that will be applied by the Federal |
430 | Government to any accrued outstanding balances. |
431 | (b) The additional rate assessed for a calendar year shall |
432 | be determined by dividing the estimated amount of interest to be |
433 | paid in that year by 95 percent of the taxable wages as |
434 | described in s. 443.1217 paid by all employers for the year |
435 | ending June 30 of the immediately preceding calendar year. The |
436 | amount to be paid by each employer shall be the product obtained |
437 | by multiplying such employer's taxable wages as described in s. |
438 | 443.1217 for the year ending June 30 of the immediately |
439 | preceding calendar year by the rate as determined by this |
440 | subsection. The tax collection service provider shall make a |
441 | separate collection of such assessment, which may be collected |
442 | at the time of employer contributions and subject to the same |
443 | penalties for failure to file a report, imposition of the |
444 | standard rate pursuant to paragraph (3)(h), and interest if the |
445 | assessment is not received on or before June 30. Paragraphs (d) |
446 | and (e) of s. 443.141(1) do not apply to this separately |
447 | collected assessment. The tax collection service provider shall |
448 | maintain those funds in the tax collection service provider's |
449 | Audit and Warrant Clearing Trust Fund until the provider is |
450 | directed by the Governor or the Governor's designee to make the |
451 | interest payment to the Federal Government. Assessments on |
452 | deposit may be invested and any interest earned shall be part of |
453 | the balance available to pay the interest on advances received |
454 | from the Federal Government under 42 U.S.C. s. 1321. In the |
455 | calendar year that all advances from the Federal Government |
456 | under 42 U.S.C. s. 1321 and associated interest are repaid, if |
457 | there are assessment funds in excess of the amount required to |
458 | meet the final interest payment, any such excess assessed funds |
459 | shall be credited to employer accounts in the Unemployment |
460 | Compensation Trust Fund in an amount equal to the employer's |
461 | contribution to the assessment for that year divided by the |
462 | total amount of the assessment for that year, the result of |
463 | which is multiplied by the amount of excess assessed funds. |
464 | However, if the state is permitted to defer interest payments |
465 | due during a calendar year under 42 U.S.C. s. 1322, payment of |
466 | the interest assessment shall not be due. If a deferral of |
467 | interest expires or is subsequently disallowed by the Federal |
468 | Government, either prospectively or retroactively, the interest |
469 | assessment shall be immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding |
470 | any other provision of this section, if interest due during a |
471 | calendar year on federal advances is forgiven or postponed under |
472 | federal law and is no longer due during that calendar year, no |
473 | interest assessment shall be assessed against an employer for |
474 | that calendar year, and any assessment already assessed and |
475 | collected against an employer before the forgiveness or |
476 | postponement of the interest for that calendar year shall be |
477 | credited to such employer's account in the Unemployment |
478 | Compensation Trust Fund. However, such funds may be used only to |
479 | pay benefits or refunds of erroneous contributions. |
480 | (6) INVALIDITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS.-If any provision of |
481 | this section prevents the state from qualifying for any federal |
482 | interest relief provisions provided under s. 1202 of the Social |
483 | Security Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 1322, or prevents employers in this |
484 | state from qualifying for the limitation on credit reduction as |
485 | provided under s. 3302(f) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, |
486 | 26 U.S.C. s. 3302(f), that provision is invalid to the extent |
487 | necessary to maintain qualification for the interest relief |
488 | provisions and federal unemployment tax credits. |
489 | Section 5. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and |
490 | retroactive to January 1, 2010, paragraphs (d) and (e) are added |
491 | to subsection (1) of section 443.141, Florida Statutes, to read: |
492 | 443.141 Collection of contributions and reimbursements.- |
493 | (1) PAST DUE CONTRIBUTIONS AND REIMBURSEMENTS.- |
494 | (d) Payments for 2010 Contributions.-For an annual |
495 | administrative fee not to exceed $5, a contributing employer may |
496 | pay its quarterly contributions due for wages paid in the first |
497 | three quarters of 2010 in equal installments if those |
498 | contributions are paid as follows: |
499 | 1. For contributions due for wages paid in the first |
500 | quarter of 2010, one-fourth of the contributions due must be |
501 | paid on or before April 30, 2010, one-fourth must be paid on or |
502 | before July 31, 2010, one-fourth must be paid on or before |
503 | October 31, 2010, and the remaining one-fourth must be paid on |
504 | or before December 31, 2010. |
505 | 2. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraph |
506 | 1., for contributions due for wages paid in the second quarter |
507 | of 2010, one-third of the contributions due must be paid on or |
508 | before July 31, 2010, one-third must be paid on or before |
509 | October 31, 2010, and the remaining one-third must be paid on or |
510 | before December 31, 2010. |
511 | 3. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraphs |
512 | 1. and 2., for contributions due for wages paid in the third |
513 | quarter of 2010, one-half of the contributions due must be paid |
514 | on or before October 31, 2010, and the remaining one-half must |
515 | be paid on or before December 31, 2010. |
516 | 4. The annual administrative fee not to exceed $5 for the |
517 | election to pay under the installment method shall be collected |
518 | at the time the employer makes the first installment payment. |
519 | The $5 fee shall be segregated from the payment and shall be |
520 | deposited in the Operating Trust Fund within the Department of |
521 | Revenue. |
522 | 5. Interest does not accrue on any contribution that |
523 | becomes due for wages paid in the first three quarters of 2010 |
524 | if the employer pays the contribution in accordance with |
525 | subparagraphs 1.-4. Interest and fees continue to accrue on |
526 | prior delinquent contributions and commence accruing on all |
527 | contributions due for wages paid in the first three quarters of |
528 | 2010 which are not paid in accordance with subparagraphs 1.-3. |
529 | Penalties may be assessed in accordance with this chapter. The |
530 | contributions due for wages paid in the fourth quarter of 2010 |
531 | are not affected by this paragraph and are due and payable in |
532 | accordance with this chapter. |
533 | (e) Payments for 2011 Contributions.-For an annual |
534 | administrative fee not to exceed $5, a contributing employer may |
535 | pay its quarterly contributions due for wages paid in the first |
536 | three quarters of 2011 in equal installments if those |
537 | contributions are paid as follows: |
538 | 1. For contributions due for wages paid in the first |
539 | quarter of 2011, one-fourth of the contributions due must be |
540 | paid on or before April 30, 2011, one-fourth must be paid on or |
541 | before July 31, 2011, one-fourth must be paid on or before |
542 | October 31, 2011, and the remaining one-fourth must be paid on |
543 | or before December 31, 2011. |
544 | 2. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraph |
545 | 1., for contributions due for wages paid in the second quarter |
546 | of 2011, one-third of the contributions due must be paid on or |
547 | before July 31, 2011, one-third must be paid on or before |
548 | October 31, 2011, and the remaining one-third must be paid on or |
549 | before December 31, 2011. |
550 | 3. In addition to the payments specified in subparagraphs |
551 | 1. and 2., for contributions due for wages paid in the third |
552 | quarter of 2011, one-half of the contributions due must be paid |
553 | on or before October 31, 2011, and the remaining one-half must |
554 | be paid on or before December 31, 2011. |
555 | 4. The annual administrative fee not to exceed $5 for the |
556 | election to pay under the installment method shall be collected |
557 | at the time the employer makes the first installment payment. |
558 | The $5 fee shall be segregated from the payment and shall be |
559 | deposited in the Operating Trust Fund within the Department of |
560 | Revenue. |
561 | 5. Interest does not accrue on any contribution that |
562 | becomes due for wages paid in the first three quarters of 2011 |
563 | if the employer pays the contribution in accordance with |
564 | subparagraphs 1.-4. Interest and fees continue to accrue on |
565 | prior delinquent contributions and commence accruing on all |
566 | contributions due for wages paid in the first three quarters of |
567 | 2011 which are not paid in accordance with subparagraphs 1.-3. |
568 | Penalties may be assessed in accordance with this chapter. The |
569 | contributions due for wages paid in the fourth quarter of 2011 |
570 | are not affected by this paragraph and are due and payable in |
571 | accordance with this chapter. |
572 | Section 6. For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the sum of |
573 | $903,642 in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the |
574 | Operating Trust Fund to the Administration of Unemployment |
575 | Compensation Tax Special Category in the Department of Revenue |
576 | to be used to implement this act. In addition, for the 2009-2010 |
577 | fiscal year, the sum of $643,862 in nonrecurring funds is |
578 | appropriated from the Employment Security Administration Trust |
579 | Fund in the contracted services appropriation category to the |
580 | Agency for Workforce Innovation to be used to contract with the |
581 | Department of Revenue for tax-related services as required to |
582 | implement this act. |
583 | Section 7. The Legislature finds that this act fulfills an |
584 | important state interest. |
585 | Section 8. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
586 | act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law, retroactive |
587 | to June 29, 2009. |