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Senate Bill 5 overridden, temporarily ending local face covering mandate Holcomb discusses Unemployment<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ve asked the Department of Workforce Development to complete a demographic analysis of unemployed Hoosiers over the past 16 months so I have the best information available to make an informed decision about whether the state should continue to participate in federal pandemic unemployment programs. Part of that analysis is to compare our workforce now versus before the start of the pandemic. Our unemployment rate stands at 3.9 percent, which is near pre-pandemic levels, and our labor force mirrors pre-pandemic levels, when we also had worker shortages. We must concentrate on building the right pathways to match people with the skill sets employers need and to attract more people to join our workforce.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the meantime, I\u2019ll issue an executive order early next week that will reinstate the requirement that unemployment insurance claimants actively seek employment and be available for work, which we have waived since the beginning of the pandemic. I\u2019ve also directed DWD to assure we are providing all needed support services for those who are out of work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Governor Holcomb\u2019s veto of Senate Bill 5 was overridden by the Indiana Legislature yesterday in a final vote of 59-30 in the House and 36-10 in the Senate. All local mandates relating to Health Emergencies are currently voided. The new law requires elected municipalities to vote to approve any and all local health orders more stringent than those imposed by the State of Indiana. According to Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas, Monroe County has already ratified the health order and they will be \u201chearing an ordinance this week that establishes a hearing process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Governor Eric Holcomb has released the following statement regarding pandemic-related unemployment insurance programs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n