Relating to government benefits; declaring an emergency.

Authorizes Director of Employment Department to prescribe rules that provide individual may not be excluded from being deemed unemployed solely because of service performed for employing unit under legal compulsion for which individual has not received pay on individual's regular payday. Provides that individual continues to be deemed unemployed until earlier of date on which individual begins to receive payment on regular payday or individual permanently ceases work for employing unit. ] Provides state-funded program to pay unemployment benefits to individuals on active duty in U.S. Coast Guard and stationed in this state who are legally compelled to provide regular service in U.S. Coast Guard ] employees of United States and active duty members of Armed Forces of United States who are required to perform service without receiving ] compensation due to lapse of federal appropriations and who would otherwise be eligible for unemployment compensation for federal employees or ex-servicemembers under federal law. Appropriates moneys to Employment Department for purposes of paying benefits and costs necessary ] incurred by department to administer benefit program. Provides that back pay shall be considered earnings in determining benefits payable to individual for period for which back pay has been or is paid. Permits Director of Employment Department to use additional methods for recovering benefits erroneously paid to claimant through no fault of claimant and requires director to waive recovery of such overpaid benefits if recovery would be against equity and good conscience. Requires director to make reasonable efforts to advise new claimants for benefits of procedures for recovery of benefits paid in error. Prohibits reduction of back pay paid or awarded to an individual to reflect benefits that individual received during period for which back pay was paid or awarded. Declares emergency, effective on passage.