S-2830

AN ACT Relating to unemployment insurance; adding new sections to chapter 50.22 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that it is vitally important for unemployed steel workers and salaried employees of steel mills to receive additional unemployment insurance benefits. These additional benefits are awarded to assist these workers in making the transition to other forms of suitable employment without undue hardship.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout section 3 of this act.

(1) "Steel worker" means a union worker that is unemployed because of the closure, sale, or subsequent capital improvements to the plant and equipment of a steel mill. The workers included within this definition shall be determined by the employment security department.

(2) "Salaried employee" means any nonunion worker that is unemployed because of the closure, sale, or subsequent capital improvements to plant and equipment of a steel mill. The workers included within this definition shall be determined by the employment security department.

The commissioner may adopt rules further interpreting these definitions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) An additional benefit period is established for the unemployed steel workers and salaried employees identified under subsection (2) of this section beginning on the first Sunday after the effective date of this section. Benefits shall be paid as provided in subsection (3) of this section to exhaustees eligible under subsection (4) of this section.

(2) The additional benefit period applies to steel workers and salaried employees if the commissioner determines that the closure, sale, or subsequent capital improvements of the plant and equipment of a steel mill have resulted in their loss of employment.

(3) Additional benefits shall be paid as follows:

(a) No new claims for additional benefits shall be accepted for weeks beginning after September 23, 1991, but for claims established on or before September 23, 1991, weeks of unemployment occurring after September 23, 1991, shall be compensated as provided in this section.

(b) The total additional benefit amount shall be twenty-six times the individual's weekly benefit amount.

(d) Benefits paid under this section shall be paid under the same terms and conditions as regular benefits and shall not be charged to the experience rating account of the employer. The additional benefit period shall be suspended with the start of an extended benefit period, or any totally federally funded benefit program, with eligibility criteria and benefits comparable to the program established by this section, and shall resume the first week following the end of the federal program.

(4) An additional benefit eligibility period is established for any exhaustee who:

(a) At the time of last separation from employment was employed as a steel worker or salaried employee in any department of a steel mill identified under subsection (2) of this section; and

(b) Has received notice of termination or lay off; and

(c) Is unlikely to return to employment in the steel industry because of a diminishing demand within his or her labor market.

(5) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 2 and 3 of this act are each added to chapter 50.22 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.