ATPAM Urges Members To Contact New
York State Senators
To Change Unemployment Insurance Rules
Effective April 1, 1999, New York State completed the
transition to a wage reporting system, rather than a weeks-worked system, to
determine eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. Under the
Unemployment Reform Law of 1998, eligibility for benefits is based on wages
reported by employers in reports filed with the New York State Department of
Taxation and Finance and the previous "weeks of work" requirements
are eliminated.
ATPAM joined with other members of the entertainment
community to protest these changes and, instead, to support passage of
legislation to remedy the problem.
As a result of these and other efforts, the bill has been
passed by the State Assembly. It is now anticipated that a special session
of the legislature will be called in order that the Senate bill (S/5945-A)
be voted upon.
Therefore, members are urged to write, fax or call the
following members of the Senate as soon as possible urging them to support
this important legislation.
Senator Nicholas
Spano Senator Joseph Bruno
Room 509-LOB Room
909-LOB
Albany, NY 12247
Albany, NY 12247
Tel: (518)
455-2231 Tel: (518) 455-3191
Fax: (518)
426-6906 Fax: (518) 455-2448
Senator Martin
Connor Senator Roy Goodman
Room 907-LOB Room
913-LOB
Albany, NY 12247
Albany, NY 12247
Tel: (518)
455-2701 Tel: (518) 455-2211
Fax: (518)
455-2816 Fax: (518) 455-2960
Proposed Text of Message
Dear Senator:
S/5945-A remedies the problems that
exist in the Unemployment Reform Law of 1998 which disadvantaged many
seasonal or casual workers. Specifically, the need to have earned at least
$1,600 in the highest calendar quarter of the base period in order to
receive benefits would, for one, make many entertainment industry workers
ineligible for unemployment insurance.
S/5945 affords claimants the alternative
of 20 weeks of employment within the base period with total earnings of at
least $2,400.
The companion bill to S/5945-A was
passed in the Assembly (A/88801-A).
I urge you to use your good offices to
work for the passage and enactment of this bill so that it can be
implemented in fairness to all employees who are in need of this essential
benefit.
Sincerely,
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