FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5769

                           C 90 L 95

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Revising provision on recovery of unemployment insurance overpayments.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senator Deccio; by request of Employment Security Department).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  Currently, the Employment Security Department may only assess overpayments on unemployment insurance (UI) benefits within two years of the individual's "benefit year."  A "benefit year" is the 52-week period in which a worker is eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

The department has requested that this time limit be extended due to the recent state and federal benefit extensions, which allow UI benefits to be paid beyond the normal individual benefit year.

Summary:  The Employment Security Department may assess overpayments on UI benefits up to two years after the final payments are made to a worker, or two years after the individual benefit year, whichever is greater.

The act applies to job separations occurring after July 1, 1995.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    43 0

House     95 0

Effective:  April 18, 1995