H-1358.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1803
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Wood, Conway, Gombosky, Cody, Kenney, O'Brien, Mason, Cole, Tokuda, Dunshee, Dunn, Veloria, Blalock, Sullivan, Butler, Keiser, Morris and Ogden
Read first time 02/10/97. Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
AN ACT Relating to employer sponsored programs for voluntary work force reductions; adding a new section to chapter 50.20 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:
(1) Many employers are reducing costs or restructuring their businesses through strategies that include work force reductions;
(2) When programs such as employer sponsored voluntary layoffs are successful, involuntary layoffs can sometimes be avoided altogether; and
(3) Voluntary participation in an employer initiated work force reduction process should not disqualify an unemployed worker from unemployment insurance benefits.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 50.20 RCW to read as follows:
A person shall be found to have left work for nondisqualifying reasons if he or she left work under the following conditions:
(1) The employer initiated a work force reduction program or process that involves voluntary layoff and may include financial or other inducements; and
(2) The individual volunteered to be included in the layoff or reduction-in-force or volunteered to participate in the employer's layoff or retirement program; and
(3) The employer retained discretion over which individuals are released; and
(4) The employer accordingly released the individual.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. 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. 4. 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 takes effect immediately and shall apply to separations from employment on or after the effective date of this act.
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