Georgia Senate Bill SB190

Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/15/23
• Refer: 2/16/23

Caption

Labor and Industrial Relations; employment security; provisions; change

Impact

If enacted, SB190 will enforce new financial obligations on employers, particularly new or newly covered employers, who will need to pay contributions at established rates and administrative assessments. These provisions seek to streamline contributions and ensure sustainable funding for employment security programs over the next decade, with measures in place to prevent deductions from employee wages that violate this law. The bill establishes a clear framework for how assessments and contributions will be calculated, reported, and collected, which is expected to enhance compliance among employers.

Summary

Senate Bill 190 aims to amend Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which governs labor and industrial relations. The primary focus of the bill is to revise provisions related to employment security, particularly regarding the rates of employer contributions and the introduction of new administrative assessments. This legislation is designed to extend the current framework governing employer contributions and to implement an administrative assessment of 0.06 percent on all wages, effective January 1, 2024. This assessment aims to provide additional funding for the unemployment compensation fund while maintaining the existing rates based on employer experience.

Contention

There are concerns related to the potential increase in costs for employers, as they will be subject to additional assessments alongside existing contribution requirements. Opponents of the bill may argue that these changes could disproportionately burden small businesses and influential discussions within legislative committees may center around maintaining a balance between adequate funding for unemployment compensation and the financial impact on employers, particularly in a challenging economic environment.