SB300 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Tom Whatley Bryan Taylor Gerald O. Dial Clay Scofield Paul Bussman Dick Brewbaker Greg J. Reed Jimmy Holley Rusty Glover Paul Sanford Trip Pittman Del Marsh J.T. Waggoner Gerald H. Allen Mark Slade Blackwell
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Unemployment compensation, compensable week further defined, Sec. 25-4-73 am'd
Summary: SB300 changes Alabama unemployment benefits by adding a $15 earnings disregard and a one-week waiting period at the start of each benefit year, while preserving older rules for weeks before 1989.
What This Bill Does
For weeks beginning on or after July 3, 1983, the weekly unemployment benefit is the weekly benefit amount minus any wages earned that week over $15, with the final benefit rounded to the nearest dollar. The bill also requires a one-week waiting period at the start of each benefit year during which no benefits are paid, and that week does not count as a week of unemployment. Weeks beginning before January 1, 1989 continue to be paid under the previous rules, not the new calculations. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the Governor signs it into law.

Who It Affects
Eligible unemployed individuals (totally or partially unemployed) whose weekly benefits will be reduced by earnings over $15 and who must endure a new one-week waiting period at the start of each benefit year.
Alabama's unemployment compensation program and the employers who fund it, due to changes in benefit calculations, waiting-period administration, and overall payout costs.

Key Provisions
Adds a $15 earnings disregard: benefits for a given week are reduced by wages earned in that week that exceed $15.
Rounding rule: if the calculated benefit is not a whole dollar, it is rounded to the nearest dollar.
One-week waiting period: the first compensable week in each benefit year has no benefits paid and is not counted as an unemployment week.
Transitional rule: weeks beginning before January 1, 1989 are governed by the old rules.
Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Unemployment Compensation