§ 11-10-227 — Treatment of Indian tribes

(a) The term "employer" shall include any Indian tribe for which service in employment as defined under this chapter is performed. (b) The term "employment" shall include service performed in the employ of an Indian tribe, as defined in section 3306(u) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, provided the service is excluded from "employment" as defined in the Federal Unemployment Tax Act solely by reason of section 3306(c)(7) and is not otherwise excluded from "employment" under this chapter. For purposes of this section, the exclusions from employment in § 11-10-210(a)(4) shall be applicable to services performed in the employ of an Indian tribe. (c) The term "tribal unit" means subdivisions, subsidiaries, and business enterprises wholly owned by an Indian tribe. (d) Benefits based on service in employment defined in this section shall be payable in the same amount, on the same terms, and subject to the same conditions as benefits payable on the basis of other service subject under this chapter. (e) (1) Indian tribes or tribal units subject to this chapter shall pay contributions under the same terms and conditions as all other subject employers unless they elect to pay into the state unemployment fund amounts equal to the amount of benefits attributable to service in the employ of the Indian tribe. (2) Indian tribes electing to make payments in lieu of contributions must make the election in the same manner and under the same conditions as provided in § 11-10-713 pertaining to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations subject to this chapter. Indian tribes will determine if reimbursement for benefits paid shall be elected by the tribe as a whole, by individual tribal units, or by combinations of individual tribal units. (3) Indian tribes or tribal units shall be billed for the full amount of benefits attributable to service in the employ of the Indian tribe or tribal unit on the same schedule as other employing units that have elected to make payments in lieu of contributions. (f) (1) (A) Failure of the Indian tribe or tribal unit to make required payments, including assessments of interest and penalty, within ninety (90) days after receipt of the bill shall cause the Indian tribe to lose the option to make payments in lieu of contributions, as described in subsection (e) of this section, for the following tax year unless payment in full is received before contribution rates for the next tax year are computed. (B) Any Indian tribe that loses the option to make payments in lieu of contributions due to late payment or nonpayment, as described in subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section, shall have the option reinstated if, after a period of one (1) year, all contributions have been made timely, provided that no contributions, payments in lieu of contributions for benefits paid, penalties, or interest remain outstanding. (2) (A) Failure of the Indian tribe or any tribal unit thereof to make required payments, including assessments of interest and penalty, after all collection activities deemed necessary by the Director of the Division of Workforce Services have been exhausted shall cause services performed for the tribe to not be treated as "employment" for purposes of subsection (b) of this section. (B) The director may determine that any Indian tribe that loses coverage under subdivision (f)(2)(A) of this section may have services performed for the tribe again included as "employment" for purposes of subsection (b) of this section if all contributions, payments in lieu of contributions, penalties, and interest have been paid. (C) If an Indian tribe fails to make payments required under subdivisions (f)(2)(A) and (B) of this section, including assessments of interest and penalty, within ninety (90) days after a final notice of delinquency, the director will immediately notify the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Department of Labor. (g) Notices of payment and reporting delinquency to Indian tribes or their tribal units shall include information that failure to make full payment within the prescribed time frame: (1) Shall cause the Indian tribe to be liable for taxes under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act; (2) Shall cause the Indian tribe to lose the option to make payments in lieu of contributions; and (3) Could cause the Indian tribe to be excepted from the definition of "employer", as provided in subsection (a) of this section, and services in the employ of the Indian tribe, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, to be excepted from "employment". (h) Extended benefits paid that are attributable to service in the employ of an Indian tribe and not reimbursed by the United States Government shall be financed in their entirety by the Indian tribe.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 186, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 2001, No. 1467, § 1.