AN ACT Relating to
unemployment compensation; amending RCW 50.04.020 and 50.04.223; creating a new
section; providing effective dates; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 50.04.020 and 1987 c
278 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
"Base year"
with respect to each individual, shall mean either the first four of the last
five completed calendar quarters or the last four completed calendar quarters
immediately preceding the first day of the individual's benefit year.
For the purposes of
establishing a benefit year, the department shall initially use the first four
of the last five completed calendar quarters as the base year. If a benefit
year is not established using the first four of the last five calendar quarters
as the base year, the department shall use the last four completed calendar
quarters as the base year.
Computations using the
last four completed calendar quarters shall be based on available wage items
processed as of the close of business on the day preceding the date of
application. ((Wage items not processed at the time of application shall
become available to the claim as they are added to department systems. The
department shall not be required to make employer contacts or take other
actions that would not be applicable to claims based on the first four of the
last five completed calendar quarters.)) The department shall promptly
contact employers to request assistance in obtaining wage information for the
last completed calendar quarter if it has not been reported at the time of
initial application.
Sec. 2. RCW 50.04.223 and 1993 c
167 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
The term
"employment" does not include services performed by a massage
practitioner licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW in a massage business if the use
of the business facilities is contingent upon compensation to the owner of the
business facilities and the person receives no compensation from the owner for
the services performed.
This exemption does
not include services performed by a massage practitioner for an employer under
chapter 50.44 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. A new section is added
to chapter 50.22 RCW to read as follows:
Supplemental additional
benefits shall be available to individuals who, under this chapter, had a
balance of extended benefits available after payments up to and including the
week ending February 26, 1994.
(1) Total supplemental
additional benefits payable shall be equal to the extended benefit balance
remaining after extended benefit payments for up to and including the week
ending February 26, 1994, and shall be paid at the same weekly benefit amount.
(2) The week ending
March 5, 1994, is the first week for which supplemental additional benefits are
payable.
(3) Supplemental
additional benefits shall be paid under the same terms and conditions as
extended benefits.
(4) Supplemental
additional benefits are not payable for weeks more than one year beyond the end
of the benefit year of the regular claim.
(5) Weeks of
supplemental additional benefits may not be paid for weeks that begin after the
start of a new extended benefit period, or any totally federally funded benefit
program with eligibility criteria and benefits comparable to additional
benefits.
(6) Weeks of
supplemental additional benefits may not be paid for weeks of unemployment
beginning after December 31, 1995.
(7) The department
shall seek federal funding to reimburse the state for the supplemental
additional benefits paid under this section. Any federal funds received by the
state for reimbursement shall be deposited in the unemployment trust fund
solely for the payment of benefits under this title.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
4. If any part of this act
is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed
condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of
employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting
part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of
the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation
of the remainder of this act. The rules under this act shall meet federal
requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by
the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in
this state.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
5. If any provision of this
act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
6. (1) Section 1 of 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 April 3, 1994.
(2) Section 2 of 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 April 1, 1994.
(3) Section 3 of 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.
