VETO MESSAGE ON SB 5571

                   May 12, 1997

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 4, Senate Bill No. 5571 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to reporting payments under unemployment insurance and industrial insurance;"

     This bill requires the Department of Labor and Industries and the Employment Security Department to jointly develop a plan for implementing a unified form for reporting both industrial insurance premiums and unemployment insurance contributions by January 1, 1998, and to report that plan to the legislature.

     Section 4 of SB 5571 would require the Employment Security Department to add new information to employer notification forms.  This addition is not related to the primary intent of this bill, which is to address non-compliance with reporting requirements.  There are many complicated issues regarding the unemployment tax structure.  Rather than deal with unemployment insurance on a piecemeal basis, those issues should be considered separately, and properly dealt with in the context of the entire unemployment tax structure.

     For the reason stated above, I have vetoed section 4 of Senate Bill No. 5571.

     With the exception of section 4, Senate Bill No. 5571 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor