CASPER (WNE) — The Wyoming Legislature will likely take up a bill in the next few months that would allow workers whose hours have been reduced to receive some unemployment benefits for up to one year.

If passed, the legislation would set up something commonly known as a short-term compensation, or “worksharing,” program. It would open up unemployment benefits to workers still on payroll while allowing small business owners to cut employee hours in an effort to save costs.

While common in many states, such a program has never existed in Wyoming. However, provisions in the federal coronavirus relief bill included an appropriation to help states stand up a program while backfilling 100% of the funding for those programs.

Under a draft proposal working its way through the Joint Committee on Minerals, Business, and Economic Development, employers would still be required to pay the full cost of their existing health insurance and benefits packages throughout the maximum yearlong duration of the program and can only reduce an employee’s time from 10 to 60%.

Ultimately, it will be up to every business to decide for themselves whether to implement the program.