HB19 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jack Williams
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Unemployment compensation, individual weekly benefit payment, formula for calculating altered, Sec. 25-4-73 am'd.
Summary: HB19 changes how unemployment benefits are calculated in Alabama by reducing weekly payments when a recipient earns wages in the same week.
What This Bill Does
If you are totally or partially unemployed in a given week, your unemployment payment is based on your weekly benefit amount minus wages earned that week when those wages exceed $15. The reduction is one third of your weekly benefit amount, and the result is rounded to the nearest dollar. For weeks beginning before January 1, 1989, the old calculation method remains in place. In benefit years starting on or after August 1, 2012, there is a one-week waiting period with no benefits in the first payable week. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is enacted and approved.

Who It Affects
Unemployed or partially unemployed individuals in Alabama who earn wages during a given week (benefits may be reduced if weekly wages exceed $15).
The Alabama state unemployment compensation program and related budgets, since benefit calculations and waiting periods may change amounts paid out.

Key Provisions
Replaces previous formula with a calculation where the weekly benefit payment equals the weekly benefit amount minus the portion of wages earned in the week that exceeds $15, with the deduction equal to one third of the weekly benefit amount, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Weeks beginning prior to January 1, 1989 are governed by the old rules; the new formula does not apply to those weeks.
For benefit years effective on or after August 1, 2012, there is a one-week waiting period with no benefits during the first compensable week in a benefit year.
The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval (approximately August 2015 in this enacted timeline).

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