AN ACT providing immediate eligibility for unemployment benefits to individuals unemployed due to a major industrial disaster.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 96‑13 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(c1)	As to claims filed on or after January 29, 2003, the waiting period for a benefit year shall not be required of a claimant if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)	The benefits are to be paid for unemployment due directly to a major industrial disaster that destroys substantially all of the physical facilities of a manufacturing plant.
(2)	The Governor has acknowledged the disaster through the creation of such task forces as are needed to coordinate State assistance to the manufacturer and its employees.
(3)	The Governor has issued an Executive Order directing and authorizing the Employment Security Commission to waive the waiting week for employees of the manufacturer. 
(4)	The Employment Security Commission shall implement regulations prescribing the procedure for the waiver of the waiting period week in accordance with G.S. 96-4(b)."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 26th day of February, 2003.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 4:20 p.m. this 27th day of February, 2003