HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6074

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to additional unemployment insurance benefits.

Brief Description:  Providing additional unemployment insurance benefits.

Sponsor(s):  Senators Conner, Owen, Sutherland, Snyder, Amondson, Anderson, Bauer, McMullen and Erwin.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 25, 1992, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; Vance; and Wilson.

Staff:  Chris Cordes (786-7117).

Background:  In 1991, an additional unemployment insurance benefit program was enacted for workers in the forest products industry or in counties impacted by reductions in timber harvest.  These benefits are available while the worker successfully participates in approved training.

Under the Employment Security Department rules, the program was available only to workers who became unemployed and established an unemployment benefit year beginning on or after July 29, 1990, and ending after July 27, 1991.

Summary of Bill:  Qualified unemployment insurance claimants whose benefit year began after January 1, 1989, and ended before July 27, 1991, are made eligible for the additional unemployment insurance benefit program enacted for unemployed workers in the forest products industry or in counties impacted by reductions in timber harvest.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The bill will benefit a relatively small number of workers, but the benefits are very important to get these workers into training.  There is no opposition to the bill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Paul Conner, prime sponsor.