HB285 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Alan Harper
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Terri Collins William Roberts Lynn Greer Paul W. Lee April Weaver Barry Moore Ed Henry Richard Baughn Becky Nordgren Mac Buttram Donnie Chesteen John Merrill Ken Johnson Mike Jones Paul Beckman Bill Poole Mark Tuggle K.L. Brown Mary Sue McClurkin Randy Davis Mac McCutcheon Jay Love Victor Gaston Mike Ball Paul DeMarco Jack Williams Dickie Drake Chad Fincher Alan Baker Steve McMillan Jim McClendon Randy Wood Steve Clouse Barry Mask Micky Hammon Greg Wren Jim Carns
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Unemployment compensation, compensable week further defined, Sec. 25-4-73 am'd
Summary: HB285 would redefine what counts as a compensable week for unemployment benefits in Alabama, including how earnings affect benefits and adding a one-week waiting period.
What This Bill Does
It specifies that unemployment benefits for a week are the weekly benefit amount minus wages earned in that week above $15, rounded to the nearest dollar. It preserves existing rules for weeks before 1989. It adds a one-week waiting period in the early part of a benefit year (for benefit years after July 6, 2008), during the first compensable week, with no benefits paid for that week, and the waiting week does not count toward unemployment weeks. The changes would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

Who It Affects
Unemployed or partially unemployed workers in Alabama: their weekly benefits could be reduced by earnings over $15 in a given week, and they may face a one-week waiting period at the start of a benefit year.
State unemployment program and employers: the administration and eligibility rules would reflect the new compensable week definition and the waiting period.

Key Provisions
Defines compensable week calculation: benefits equal weekly benefit amount minus earnings over $15 for that week, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Preserves the existing rules for weeks prior to January 1, 1989.
Imposes a one-week waiting period in the first compensable week of a benefit year for benefit years after July 6, 2008; this waiting week has no benefits and is not counted toward unemployment weeks.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Unemployment Compensation