WSR 19-14-016

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

[Filed June 21, 2019, 12:41 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Implementing SB 5398 (chapter 50, Laws of 2019) relating to unemployment benefit eligibility for electrical apprentices.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 50.12.010 and 50.12.040 provide general rule-making authority to the employment security department (ESD).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: For certain "individuals complying with an electrical apprenticeship training program," SB 5398 established different eligibility requirements to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Rules are necessary to more precisely define what these eligibility requirements are, and specify the particular electrical apprentices to whom these new eligibility requirements apply.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) reviews the state's administration of the unemployment insurance program to ensure conformity to federal statutes and regulations. The state has broad flexibility in the implementation of the unemployment insurance laws so long as conformity is maintained. The proposed regulations will be shared with USDOL prior to adoption.

Process for Developing New Rule: The proposed rule will be shared with stakeholders as identified through the standard rule-making process. ESD will solicit input and consider all comments in the development of the final rule.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Scott E. Michael, P.O. Box 9046, phone 360-902-9587, fax 360-902-9662, TTY relay 711, email rules@esd.wa.gov, web site https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/rulemaking/benefits.

June 21, 2019

Daniel Zeitlin

Employment System Policy Director