5189 AMS HONE S1783.1
SB 5189 - S AMD 020
By Senator Honeyford
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. There is established in the employment security department the domestic violence unemployment insurance special benefits program. The commissioner shall administer the program using the funds appropriated by the legislature for this act. The expenses incurred by the commissioner in carrying out this chapter shall be paid entirely out of the funds appropriated by the legislature for this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. In order to be eligible for benefits under the domestic violence unemployment insurance special benefits program, an applicant must have been a victim of domestic violence, as defined in RCW 26.50.010, or stalking, as defined in RCW 9A.46.110, within two years before the application date for benefits, and must show that he or she is seeking safety or relief from the domestic violence by:
(1) Relocating to a residence that is separate from the perpetrator; and
(2) Filing a police report or obtaining a restraining order against the perpetrator.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. In addition to the requirements of section 2 of this act, in order to be eligible for benefits under the domestic violence unemployment insurance special benefits program, an applicant must either be unemployed based on a necessity to protect the applicant or the applicant's immediate family members from domestic violence, as defined in RCW 26.50.010, and have been denied unemployment insurance benefits under chapter 50.20 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. To the extent that funds are available, if a person establishes eligibility under sections 2 and 3 of this act, the commissioner shall provide unemployment insurance special benefits in the form of a weekly wage subsidy to the person beginning with the calendar week in which application was made for unemployment insurance benefits. The weekly wage subsidy will be an amount equal to the weekly benefit amount the applicant would have received if benefits had not been denied under chapter 50.20 RCW. However, the duration and amount of the weekly wage subsidy received by the applicant may not exceed the maximum unemployment insurance benefit amount established in RCW 50.20.120.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The employment security department shall provide information to applicants for unemployment insurance special benefits regarding local services provided under chapter 70.123 RCW and the availability of protection orders under chapter 26.50 RCW.
(2) Weekly wage subsidies are not unemployment insurance benefits under this title and the issuance of wage subsidies shall not affect an employer's payment contribution determined under chapter 50.24 RCW, or an employer's experience rating determined under chapter 50.29 RCW.
(3) Information or records concerning an individual receiving or applying for a weekly wage subsidy under this program is subject to chapter 50.13 RCW and is not subject to discovery in any judicial proceeding unless the requirements of RCW 70.123.075 are satisfied.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the public safety and education account to the employment security department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, to carry out the purposes of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 50 RCW."
SB 5189 - S AMD 020
By Senator Honeyford
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "benefits;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "adding a new chapter to Title 50 RCW; and making an appropriation."
EFFECT: The amendment would allow unemployment insurance special benefits in the form of a weekly wage subsidy for victims of domestic violence who must leave their jobs. The domestic violence unemployment insurance special benefits program is established within the employment security department. Three hundred thousand dollars is appropriated from the public safety and education account.
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