73B-11.028. Reemployment Services

(1) One Stop Career Center Services. Reemployment services provided by One Stop Career Centers include:

(a) Priority Reemployment Planning (PREP) for claimants who, without such assistance, are likely to exhaust unemployment compensation benefits prior to becoming reemployed, and

(b) Job-Ready Reemployment Services for claimants who do not voluntarily attend reemployment assistance services or remain unemployed in excess of six weeks.

(2) Reemployment Services. One-Stop Career Centers operated by local regional workforce boards shall provide reemployment services, which may include needs assessment, an orientation interview, job search assistance, job referral, labor market information, employability skills enhancement, vocational training, employment counseling and testing, and other related services. Participation in reemployment services may be waived for claimants who are attached to regular jobs, including claimants who are:

(a) Temporarily unemployed due to lack of work and have a fixed or approximate return-to-work date within six weeks; or

(b) Union members who traditionally obtain employment through a union hiring hall. To qualify for this waiver, the claimant must provide the union hiring hall local number.

(3) Eligibility Review. Pursuant to Section 443.091(1), F.S., claimants must report as directed for periodic review of eligibility and participate in reemployment services as directed by the Department. Such report shall include information regarding continuing eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits.

(4) Selection and Scheduling. Claimants shall be randomly selected from a pool of claims identified by results of a characteristics screening or length of unemployment. Notice shall be mailed to all claimants who are selected for participation.

(5) Characteristics Screening. Pursuant to Section 443.091(1)(d), F.S., the following characteristics will be used to identify claimants who are likely to exhaust regular benefits and be in need of reemployment services. Identified claimants:

(a) Received a first benefit payment within 42 days of the beginning of the benefit year;

(b) Are intrastate claimants;

(c) Are not on recall status to return to a specific job within six weeks;

(d) Are not seasonally unemployed;

(e) Are not partially employed; and

(f) Are not union members seeking work through a hiring hall.

(6) Penalty for Failure to Report for or Participate in Services. A claimant who fails, without good cause, to report for or participate in eligibility review or reemployment services as directed by the Department or its designee will be ineligible to receive benefits for the week(s) in which such failure occurred.  Good cause for such failure will include only compelling reasons, such as:

(a) Personal illness;

(b) Illness of a family member requiring care by the claimant;

(c) A job interview at a time that conflicts with the service appointment time; and

(d) Other similar situations that would cause a reasonable person to miss a scheduled appointment for reemployment services.

Rulemaking Authority 443.1317(1)(b) FS. Law Implemented 443.091 FS. History–New 2-28-96, Formerly 38B-3.028, Amended 8-14-08, Formerly 60BB-3.028.