PERMANENT RULES
Purpose: The rules clarify how the agency will make decisions concerning unemployment benefits of individuals who quit work to protect themselves or a member of their immediate family from domestic violence are [and/or] stalking. The rules define terms, list the factors the department will consider in deciding eligibility for benefits, clarify suitable work for these individuals, and explains their job search requirements.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 50.12.010, 50.12.040, 50.12.042, and 50.20.010.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-07-144 on March 23, 2005.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: "Siblings" is added to the definition of "immediate family" for purposes of these rules only. The rule explaining the claimants' job search requirements has been modified to add the statement that claimants are generally expected to make three contacts per week.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 4, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 4, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: June 6, 2005.
Karen T. Lee
Commissioner
(1) Immediate family is defined in WAC 192-150-055 and means your spouse, children (including your unborn children), stepchildren, foster children, or parents of either spouse, whether living with you or not, and other relatives who temporarily or permanently reside in your household. In addition, for purposes of this section only, the term shall also include your siblings.
(2)(a) Domestic violence is defined in RCW 26.50.010. It includes the following acts committed between family or household members:
(i) Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault;
(ii) Sexual assault; or
(iii) Stalking.
(b) The perpetrator of domestic violence must be a family or household member, which means:
(i) Spouses and former spouses,
(ii) Persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time,
(iii) Adult persons related by blood or marriage,
(iv) Adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past,
(v) Persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship,
(vi) Persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship, and
(vii) Persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents, stepchildren, grandparents, and grandchildren.
(c) "Dating relationship" means a social relationship of a romantic nature.
(3) Stalking is defined by RCW 9A.46.110. It means:
(a) Intentionally and repeatedly harassing or following another person; and
(b) Placing the person being harassed or followed in fear of injury to self or property, or to another person or the property of another person; and
(c) Intending to frighten, intimidate, or harass the other person; or
(d) Knowing or having reason to know that the person is afraid, intimidated, or harassed even if the stalker did not intend to place the person in fear or intimidate or harass the person.
(i) "Harass" means a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously alarms, annoys, harasses, or is detrimental to such person, and which serves no legitimate or lawful purpose.
(ii) "Repeatedly" means on two or more separate occasions.
(iii) "Follows" means deliberately maintaining visual or physical proximity to a specific person over a period of time. A finding that the alleged stalker repeatedly and deliberately appears at the person's home, school, place of employment, business, or any other location to maintain visual or physical proximity to the person is sufficient to find that the alleged stalker follows the person. It is not necessary to establish that the alleged stalker follows the person while in transit from one location to another.
(iv) "Contact" includes, in addition to any other form of contact or communication, the sending of an electronic communication to the person.
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(2) The amount of notice you provide to your employer will not be a factor in evaluating whether you had good cause to leave work under this section. You will not be penalized for:
(a) Failing to provide notice to your employer prior to leaving work;
(b) Providing several weeks advance notice because you are making preparations to leave the situation;
(c) Not disclosing the domestic violence or stalking to your employer;
(d) Enduring domestic violence or stalking for an extended period of time before the job separation; or
(e) Leaving work when there has not been a recent act of domestic violence or stalking, provided you had a reasonable fear of future domestic violence or stalking.
(3) The following factors will be considered in evaluating whether you had good cause to leave work under this section:
(a) Domestic violence or stalking is the primary reason you left work, even if you gave a different reason for separation to your employer;
(b) Your separation was necessary which, for purposes of this section, means you had a good faith belief that you needed to leave work based upon:
(i) Your fear of domestic violence or stalking;
(ii) Avoiding domestic violence or stalking; or
(iii) The consequences of domestic violence or stalking, including but not limited to legal proceedings, health care, counseling, child custody, or child protection matters.
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