39-51-2602. Approved training under federal programs. (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, an otherwise eligible individual may not be denied benefits for any week:
     (a) because of participation in training approved under section 236(a)(1) of the federal Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296) or under Title I-B of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801, et seq.) when the individual is receiving Title I-B services as a dislocated worker;
     (b) because of participation in approved training described in subsection (1)(a) by reason of leaving work to enter the training if the work left is not suitable employment; or
     (c) because of the application to any week in training of the provisions in this chapter or any federal unemployment insurance law administered by this agency, relating to availability for work, active search for work, or refusal to accept work.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "suitable employment" means work of a substantially equal or higher skill level than the individual's past adversely affected employment, as defined for purposes of the federal Trade Act of 1974, and for which the wages are not less than 80% of the individual's average weekly wage as determined for the purposes of the federal Trade Act of 1974.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 7, Sp. L. 1981; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 373, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 176, Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 424, L. 2001.