43:21-24.19. Ineligibility for benefits; failure to accept offer of, apply for or actively engage in seeking suitable work or dismissal for misconduct
a. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6 of P.L.1970, c. 324 (C. 43:21-24.12) an individual shall be ineligible for payment of extended benefits for any week of unemployment in his eligibility period if it is determined during such period:
(1) The individual failed to accept any offer of suitable work as defined in paragraph c. or failed to apply for any suitable work to which the individual was referred to by the employment service or the director; or
(2) The individual failed to actively engage in seeking work as prescribed under paragraph e.
b. Any individual who has been found ineligible for extended benefits by reason of the provisions in paragraph a. of this section shall also be denied benefits beginning with the first day of the week following the week in which the failure occurred and until the individual has been employed in each of 4 subsequent weeks (whether or not consecutive) and has earned remuneration equal to not less than 4 times the individual's weekly extended benefit rate.
c. For purposes of this section the term suitable work means, with respect to any individual, any work which is within such individual's capabilities; this work shall be held to be suitable only:
(1) If the gross average weekly remuneration payable for the work exceeds the sum of: the individual's weekly extended benefit rate as determined under section 8 of P.L.1970, c. 324 (C. 43:21-24.14), plus the amount, if any, of supplemental unemployment benefits (as defined in Section 501(c)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954) payable to the individual for the respective week;
(2) If the position pays wages not less than the higher of
(a) The minimum wage provided by Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. s. 206), without regard to any exemption; or
(b) The applicable state or local minimum wage;
(3) Provided, however, that no individual shall be denied extended benefits for failure to accept an offer of or apply for any job which meets the definition of suitable work as described above if:
(a) The position was not offered to the individual in writing or was not listed with the employment service;
(b) The failure could not result in a denial of benefits under the definition of suitable work for regular benefits as provided under subsection (c) of R.S. 43:21-5 to the extent that the criteria of suitability in that section are not inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph c.;
(c) The individual furnishes satisfactory evidence to the division that his prospects for obtaining work in his customary occupation within a reasonably short period are good. If the evidence is deemed satisfactory for this purpose, the determination of whether any work is suitable with respect to the individual shall be made in accordance with the definition of suitable work for regular benefit claimants as provided under subsection (c) of R.S. 43:21-5 without regard to the definition specified by this paragraph c.
d. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6 of P.L.1970, c. 324 (C. 43:21-24.12) to the contrary, no work shall be deemed to be suitable work for an individual which does not accord with the labor standard provisions required by Section 3304(a)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and subsection (c) of R.S. 43:21-5.
e. For the purposes of subparagraph (2) of paragraph a. of this section, an individual shall be treated as actively engaged in seeking work during any week if
(1) The individual has engaged in a systematic and sustained effort to obtain work during the week, and
(2) The individual furnishes tangible evidence that he has engaged in this effort during the week.
f. The employment service shall refer any claimant entitled to extended benefits under this act to any suitable work which meets the criteria prescribed in paragraph c.
g. An individual who has been disqualified for regular benefits under the provisions of subsection (b) or (c) of R.S. 43:21-5 will not meet the eligibility requirements for the payment of extended benefits unless the individual has had employment subsequent to the effective date of disqualification for regular benefits and has earned in employment remuneration equal to not less than four times the individual's weekly benefit rate.
h. (1) An individual claiming extended benefits who is an exhaustee, as defined under paragraph j. of section 5 of P.L.1970, c. 324 (C. 43:21-24.11), and who is subsequently discharged or suspended for misconduct connected with his work as provided in subsection (b) of R.S. 43:21-5, shall be disqualified for extended benefits for the week in which the separation occurs and for each week thereafter until he has earned in employment remuneration equal to at least four times his weekly extended benefit rate, notwithstanding the disqualifying period for regular benefits for misconduct imposed under the provisions of subsection (b) of R.S. 43:21-5.
(2) An individual claiming extended benefits who is an exhaustee, as defined under paragraph j. of section 5 of P.L.1970, c. 324 (C. 43:21-24.11), but has satisfied the requirements of subparagraph c.(3)(c) of this section concerning prospects for employment, and who subsequently fails without good cause either to apply for available, suitable work when so directed by the employment office or the director or to accept suitable work as defined in subsection (c) of R.S. 43:21-5 when offered to him, or to return to his customary self-employment when directed by the director, shall be disqualified for extended benefits. The disqualification shall be only for the week in which the refusal occurs and for each week thereafter, until he has earned in employment remuneration equal to at least four times his weekly extended benefit rate, notwithstanding the disqualifying period for regular benefits for the refusal normally imposed under the provisions of subsection (c) of R.S. 43:21-5 or the disqualification imposed in paragraph b. of this section for individuals who have not satisfied the requirements of subparagraph c.(3)(c) of this section.
L.1981, c. 90, s. 2, eff. March 30, 1981. Amended by L.1982, c. 144, s. 5, eff. Sept. 14, 1982.