HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2454

                              As Passed House

                             February 13, 1992

Title:  An act relating to additional unemployment insurance benefits.

Brief Description:  Providing additional unemployment insurance benefits.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Jones, Basich, Hargrove, Riley, Sheldon, P. Johnson, Heavey, Bowman, Jacobsen, Paris, McLean, Wynne, Morton, Chandler and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 7, 1992, DP;

Passed House, February 13, 1992, 96-0.

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 industries 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 who 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:  This change in the law would accomplish what was intended when the timber relief package passed last year.  By including workers who were unemployed after January 1, 1989, the program will benefit many more workers who are now doing well in training and need only a little more support to finish.  The impact on the unemployment trust fund is small.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Evan Jones, prime sponsor; and Graeme Sackrison, Employment Security Department.