2021 Arkansas General Assembly has now adjourned: Here's what passed

Just beofre the 93rd Arkansas General Assembly adjourned recently, a late surge of activity resulted in several bills being passed into law. Below are the significant employment-related measures that made the cut. Any previously listed bills that you don't see here died in committee and need not concern you until lawmakers' next session in 2023.

New laws related to COVID-19

Act 153 of 2021 (HB 1212) removes unemployment claims during COVID-19 emergency from employer’s base rate. Act 153 authorizes the director of the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services to “noncharge” benefits paid after April 4, 2020, from the separate accounts of employers during the case period if the benefits were a direct result of a federal or state disaster declaration. The intent is for any such determination of “noncharged” benefits to be retroactive to April 4, 2020.

Clearly, Act 153 is a direct reaction to the COVID-19-related lockdowns and business restrictions that have forced many employers to lay off or furlough employees. Since unemployment insurance (UI) rates are related to claims and benefits paid during the base period, the Act is intended to keep employers’ UI rates from rising because of layoffs or furloughs related to the virus restrictions.

Act 977 of 2021 (HB 1547) prohibits mandatory COVID-19 immunizations for employees and students. It doesn't allow employers to require employees to get vaccinated for the coronavirus.