House Bill 1425
By: Representatives Frye of the 122nd, McClain of the 109th, Gisler of the 121st, Jackson of
the 165th, Cannon of the 58th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial
relations, so as to enact the "Worker Tariff Relief Program Act"; to provide for types of
assistance provided by the program; to provide for requirements for individuals to receive
assistance; to provide authority to the Department of Labor to promulgate rules and
regulations to administer the program; to provide for an annual report; to provide for funding;
to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations,
is amended in Chapter 11, which is reserved, as follows:
"CHAPTER 11
34-11-1.
<ins>(a) This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 'Worker Tariff Relief Program Act.'
</ins>
<ins>(b) The purpose of this Act is to provide timely and targeted relief to individuals who have
suffered involuntary loss of employment, reduced wages, or reduced working hours as a
result of federal tariffs, retaliatory trade actions, or related trade disruptions and to support
rapid reemployment and workforce stability.</ins> <del>Reserved.
</del> <ins>34-11-2.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) 'Covered individual' means an individual who has experienced employment
disruption in this state when such disruption is directly related to trade disruption.
(2) 'Department' means the Department of Labor.
(3) 'Employment disruption' means involuntary loss of employment, furlough, reduced
hours, or significant wage reduction.
(4) 'Program' means the 'Worker Tariff Relief Program' established in this chapter.
(5) 'Trade disruption' means employment disruption caused by federal tariffs, retaliatory
tariffs, trade restrictions, supply chain disruptions, shifts in production to avoid tariffs,
or loss of export market access resulting from federal trade actions.
34-11-3.
(a) There is hereby established the Worker Tariff Relief Program, to be administered by
the Department of Labor.
(b) The program shall provide temporary assistance to covered individuals during periods
of trade disruption declared by the department.
(c) The program shall operate in coordination with existing labor assistant programs
administered by the federal government and this state; provided, however, that such
programs shall not duplicate benefits to covered individuals.
</ins>
<ins>34-11-4.
(a) The program may provide one or more of the following forms of assistance to covered
individuals:
(1) Temporary income support, including supplemental cash assistance for individuals
experiencing reduced hours or significant wage reduction which is not fully compensated
by unemployment insurance; provided, however, total benefits received from all state and
federal assistance shall not exceed 80 percent of the individual's average weekly wage for
the year immediately preceding the trade disruption;
(2) Reemployment assistance, including job placement services, career counseling, and
rapid response services;
(3) Workforce training or retraining assistance, including short-term credentialing or
training for skills which are aligned with high-demand occupations; or
(4) Supportive services, including transportation, child care, or work related expenses
necessary for reemployment.
(b) Assistance under this Code section shall not exceed a period of 26 weeks; provided,
however, that the department may by rule extend such duration in its discretion.
(c) Funds for assistance provided for in this Code section shall be subject to appropriations
by the General Assembly.
34-11-5.
(a) The department shall establish procedures to verify that an individual's employment
disruption is directly related to a trade disruption. Such procedures may include employer
attestations, industry data, or other relevant documentation.
(b) Priority for assistance by the department may be given to covered individuals in
industries or regions experiencing significant or sustained trade disruptions as determined
by the department.
</ins>
<ins>(c) If the department determines that the total amount of benefits for which all covered
individuals are eligible exceeds the funds appropriated for the program, the department
shall have the authority to prorate benefit payments to ensure the equitable distribution of
available funds among all eligible applicants.
34-11-6.
(a) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this
program, including eligibility standards, benefit levels, duration of assistance, and
application procedures.
(b) The department may coordinate with other state agencies, employers, labor
organizations, and economic development entities to carry out the program.
(c) The department shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General
Assembly summarizing:
(1) The number of individuals served;
(2) Types of assistance provided;
(3) Industries and regions affected by trade disruption; and
(4) Reemployment outcomes, to the extent practicable.
(d) Reports submitted pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section shall not disclose
personally identifiable information.
34-11-7.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:
(1) Create an entitlement to benefits beyond funds appropriated by the General
Assembly;
(2) Alter eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance or federal trade
adjustment assistance, provided that any assistance received under this chapter shall be
</ins>
<ins>secondary to and offset by any federal or state wage replacement benefits received for the
same period of unemployment or wage disruption; or
(3) Require an employer to provide additional compensation or benefits."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.