Z-1194.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2948

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives McMorris and Conway; by request of Employment Security Department

Read first time 01/23/98.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Allowing an application for initial determination to be in writing or in another form determined by the commissioner of the employment security department.

    AN ACT Relating to application for initial determination for unemployment insurance benefits; and amending RCW 50.20.140.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 50.20.140 and 1951 c 215 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    An application for initial determination, a claim for waiting period, or a claim for benefits shall be filed in accordance with such ((regulations)) rules as the commissioner may prescribe.  An application for an initial determination may be made by any individual whether unemployed or not.  Each employer shall post and maintain printed statements of such ((regulations)) rules in places readily accessible to individuals in his or her employment and shall make available to each such individual at the time he or she becomes unemployed, a printed statement of such ((regulations)) rules and such notices, instructions, and other material as the commissioner may by ((regulation)) rule prescribe.  Such printed material shall be supplied by the commissioner to each employer without cost to ((him)) the employer.

    The term "application for initial determination" shall mean a request in writing, or by other means as determined by the commissioner, for an initial determination.  The term "claim for waiting period" shall mean a certification, after the close of a given week, that the requirements stated herein for eligibility for waiting period have been met.  The term "claim for benefits" shall mean a certification, after the close of a given week, that the requirements stated herein for eligibility for receipt of benefits have been met.

    A representative designated by the commissioner shall take the application for initial determination and for the claim for waiting period credits or for benefits.  When an application for initial determination has been made, the employment security department shall promptly make an initial determination which shall be a statement of the applicant's base year wages, his or her weekly benefit amount, his or her maximum amount of benefits potentially payable, and his or her benefit year.  Such determination shall fix the general conditions under which waiting period credit shall be granted and under which benefits shall be paid during any period of unemployment occurring within the benefit year fixed by such determination.

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