ORS 657.179: Eligibility of individuals participating in certain federally approved training.

(1) Notwithstanding provisions of this chapter relating to being available for work, actively seeking work or refusing to accept work, an unemployed individual otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits shall not be denied benefits because the individual is in training approved under Section 236 (a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974; nor shall such individual be denied benefits by reason of leaving work to enter such training if the work left is not suitable work.

      (2) As used in this section “suitable work” means work of a substantially equal or higher skill level than the individual’s past adversely affected employment (as defined for purposes of the Trade Act of 1974). Such work must pay wages which equal or exceed 80 percent of the individual’s average weekly wage as determined for the purposes of the Trade Act of 1974.