HB412 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rod Scott

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Back to Work Alabama Program created to provide workplace training for certain unemployment beneficiaries, additional weeks of benefits for person in the program, to provide funding, Sec. 25-4-77 am'd

Summary

HB412 creates the Back to Work Alabama Program to train unemployment beneficiaries with Alabama employers, keeping benefits during training and potentially extending benefits after training at no cost to employers.

What This Bill Does

It establishes a program to provide workplace training to eligible unemployed people by eligible Alabama employers, with up to 24 training hours per week for up to six weeks and a daily cost stipend of up to $100 per week. Participants keep their unemployment benefits during the training, and those who exhaust benefits while in the program can receive up to 26 additional weeks of benefits, paid at their prior weekly amount and not charged to employer experience ratings. The program is funded from the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, with up to 2% for administration and the rest for training costs, and requires rules to be adopted by the appropriate state agency.

Who It Affects

• Eligible participants: unemployed Alabama residents receiving unemployment benefits who have at least six weeks of benefits remaining (or extensions) and who would participate in training.
• Eligible employers: Alabama-based employers willing to hire and train participants, meeting conditions that ensure training is bona fide and does not displace regular workers.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Back to Work Alabama Program within the Department of Industrial Relations to provide workplace training and funding for eligible participants and employers.
• Eligible participant criteria include current unemployment benefits and at least six weeks of benefits remaining or extensions, with residency in Alabama.
• Training details: up to 24 hours per week for up to six weeks, plus up to $100 per week to help with training costs; participation is voluntary; training must meet Fair Labor Standards Act trainee requirements and other conditions to be considered training rather than regular work.
• Continued unemployment benefits during the program; if a participant exhausts regular benefits while in the program, they may receive up to an additional 26 weeks of benefits, equal to their prior weekly benefit amount, with no charge to the employer’s experience rating.
• Funding: appropriation of $10 million from the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, with up to 2% for program administration and the remainder for participant training costs.
• Amends Section 25-4-77 to reflect these changes and requires the commissioner to adopt implementing rules; timeline includes establishing the program within 90 days and the statute taking effect three months after passage.
• Program protections and requirements include anti-discrimination compliance and specific training conditions to ensure the training benefits the participant.

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

Subjects

Back to Work Alabama Program