SB 227: Unemployment: Excluded Workers Program.

Existing law authorizes the payment of unemployment compensation benefits and requires that they be made in accordance with regulations of the Director of Employment Development. Existing law generally requires the Employment Development Department (department) to promptly pay benefits if claimants are eligible or to promptly deny benefits if they are ineligible. Existing law prohibits payment of unemployment compensation benefits for services performed by a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States, unless that person is an individual who was lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time the services were performed, was lawfully present for purposes of performing the services, or was permanently residing in the United States under color of law at the time the services were performed, as specified.

This bill would require, on or before March 31, 2025, the department to develop a detailed plan to establish a permanent Excluded Workers Program to provide cash assistance that resembles unemployment insurance benefits to unemployed workers who are ineligible for unemployment insurance due to their immigration status, as specified, and submit the plan to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of each house of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and the Legislative Analysts Office. The bill would require the Legislative Analysts Office to review the plan and report any findings or recommendations to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of each house of the Legislature and the Department of Finance, no later than 3 months after the department submits the plan.