(1) Dislocated workers approved for professional technical training may not be denied unemployment insurance benefits solely because they are attending professional technical training, nor shall such individual be denied benefits by reason of leaving work to enter such training if the work left was part-time or temporary or paid less than 80 percent of the individual’s average weekly wage during the base year.
(2) Notwithstanding provisions of this chapter relating to availability for work, actively seeking work or refusal to accept suitable work, dislocated workers approved for professional technical training and otherwise eligible for benefits are not ineligible for such benefits or waiting week credit because of attendance in professional technical training.
(3)(a) Eligible dislocated workers who file valid unemployment compensation claims, upon exhaustion of regular benefits, are eligible, subject to the availability of funds, for supplemental benefits from 1 to 26 times the individual’s most recent weekly benefit amount based upon the amount needed to continue or complete approved professional technical training.
(b) Supplemental benefits shall be paid under the same terms and conditions as regular benefits under this chapter, except that the Director of the Employment Department may extend the benefit year of an individual attending an approved professional technical training program a sufficient number of weeks to allow the individual to complete the training program.
(c) Supplemental benefits under ORS 657.335 to 657.360 may be paid only when the eligible dislocated worker is not eligible to receive extended benefits as provided in ORS 657.321 to 657.329 or additional benefits as provided in ORS 657.331 to 657.334.
(d) Supplemental benefits may be paid only to eligible dislocated workers whose unemployment, as determined by the director:
(A) Is substantially due to the lack of employment opportunities in the workers’ local labor market resulting from:
(i) High energy costs;
(ii) Extended drought conditions and the attendant economic conditions;
(iii) Secondary effects of foreign trade; or
(iv) A shift of production to another state or territory of the United States; or
(B) Resulted from the workers’ return to service in the Oregon National Guard or military reserve forces of the United States following a change in status from serving under Title 32 to serving under Title 10 of the United States Code at a time designated by the President of the United States by executive order as a period of combatant activities.
(4) The receipt of supplemental benefits is conditioned upon the individual’s demonstrating satisfactory progress and attendance in professional technical training. [1969 c.156 §§5,6; 1971 c.82 §3; 1991 c.685 §6; 1993 c.624 §1; 1995 c.495 §2; 1997 c.56 §1; 2001 c.866 §2; 2005 c.174 §2]
Section: Previous 657.330 657.331 657.332 657.333 657.334 657.335 657.337 657.340 657.342 657.345 657.350 657.355 657.357 657.360 657.370 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008