SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2893

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 18, 1994

Brief Description:  Correcting double amendments relating to job service programs and activities.

SPONSORS: Representative Heavey; by request of Law Revision Commission

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Sutherland, Vognild and Wojahn.

Staff:  Patrick Woods (786‑7430)

Hearing Dates: February 18, 1994

BACKGROUND:

A temporary job service program for unemployment insurance claimants was established in 1985.  The purpose of the program was to assist claimants in returning to employment through enhanced services, such as job search and placement assistance and, in agricultural areas, to recruit and screen claimants for agricultural employment.  The legislation also required the Employment Security Department to research and consider the feasibility of contracting with private employment agencies for job placement services.

The program was made permanent in 1987 and the provision was deleted that required research on contracting with private employment agencies for job placement services.

The job service program was amended a second time during the same session.  Following a recommendation from the Joint Select Committee on Unemployment Insurance and Compensation, legislation was adopted to give older workers the highest priority under the job service program.  The committee found that older unemployed workers experience great difficulty in finding new jobs at wages comparable to their former employment. 

SUMMARY:

Two amendments that were adopted during the same session in 1987 are both given effect and reenacted.  The amendments give older workers priority for services under the claimant job services program and delete a requirement for the Employment Security Department to research the feasibility of using contractual arrangements for specified job service activities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill is a technical cleanup of the code as supported by Employment Security Department.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Graeme Sackrison, Employment Security