It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 28-44-17, 28-44-18 and 28-44-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-44 entitled "Employment Security -- Benefits" are hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 28-44-17. Voluntary leaving without good cause. -- ADD} An individual who leaves work voluntarily without good cause shall be ineligible for waiting period credit or benefits until he {ADD or she ADD} establishes to the satisfaction of the director that he {ADD or she ADD} has subsequent to that leaving had at least four weeks of work, and in each of those four weeks has had earnings of at least twenty (20) times the minimum hourly wage as defined in chapter 42 of this title {ADD for performing services in employment for one or more employers subject to chapters 42-44, inclusive, of this title ADD} . For the purposes of this section, voluntary leaving work with good cause shall include sexual harassment against members of either sex.

{ADD 28-44-18. Discharge for misconduct. -- ADD} An individual who has been discharged for proved misconduct connected with his or her work shall thereby become ineligible for benefits for the week in which that discharge occurred and until he or she establishes to the satisfaction of the director that he or she has, subsequent to that discharge, had at least four (4) weeks of work, and in each of that four (4) weeks has had earnings of at least twenty (20) times the minimum hourly wage as defined in chapter 42 of this title {ADD for performing services in employment for one or more employers subject to chapters 42-44, inclusive, of this title ADD} ; provided, however, that any individual who is required to leave his or her work pursuant to a plan, system or program, public or private, providing for retirement, and who is otherwise eligible, shall under no circumstances be deemed to have been discharged for misconduct. However, if an individual is discharged and a complaint is issued by the regional office of the National Labor Relations board or the state labor relations board that an unfair labor practice has occurred in relation to such discharge the individual shall be entitled to benefits if otherwise eligible.

{ADD 28-44-20. Refusal of suitable work. -- ADD} (a) If an otherwise eligible individual fails, without good cause, either to apply for suitable work when notified by the employment office, or to accept suitable work when offered him {ADD or her ADD} , he {ADD or she ADD} shall thereby become ineligible for waiting period credit or benefits for the week in which that failure occurred and until he {ADD or she ADD} establishes to the satisfaction of the director that he {ADD or she ADD} has, subsequent to that failure, had at least four (4) weeks of work and in each of those four (4) weeks has had earnings of at least twenty (20) times the minimum hourly wage, as defined in section 28-42-3 {ADD , for performing services in employment for one or more employers subject to chapters 42-44, inclusive, of this title ADD} .

(b) * * *

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.