6097 AMS BROW ZIEG 011

SB 6097 - S AMD 479 to S AMD (S-3295.3/03)

By Senator Brown

6/10/03 NOT ADOPTED

On page 11, line 29, strike all of section 11 and insert the following: "Sec. 11. RCW 50.20.120 and 2002 c 149 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) (a) For claims with an effective date before January 4, 2004, subject to the other provisions of this title, benefits shall be payable to any eligible individual during the individual's benefit year in a maximum amount equal to the lesser of thirty times the weekly benefit amount (((determined hereinafter))), as determined in subsection (2) of this section, or one-third of the individual's base year wages under this title: PROVIDED, That as to any week ((beginning on and after March 31, 1981,)) which falls in an extended benefit period as defined in RCW 50.22.010(1), ((as now or hereafter amended,)) an individual's eligibility for maximum benefits in excess of twenty-six times his or her weekly benefit amount will be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in RCW 50.22.020((, as now or hereafter amended)).

(b) With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 4, 2004, benefits shall be payable to any eligible individual during the individual's benefit year in a maximum amount equal to the lesser of twenty-six times the weekly benefit amount, as determined in subsection (2) of this section, or one-third of the individual's base year wages under this title.

(2)(a) For claims with an effective date before January 4, 2004, an individual's weekly benefit amount shall be an amount equal to one twenty-fifth of the average quarterly wages of the individual's total wages during the two quarters of the individual's base year in which such total wages were highest.

(b) With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 4, 2004, an individual's weekly benefit amount shall be an amount equal to three and nine-tenths percent of the average quarterly wages of the individual's total wages during the two quarters of the individual's base year in which such total wages were highest.

(3) The maximum and minimum amounts payable weekly shall be determined as of each June 30th to apply to benefit years beginning in the twelve-month period immediately following such June 30th. ((Except as provided in RCW 50.20.125,))

(a)(i) With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 4, 2004, and before January 4, 2009, the maximum amount payable weekly shall be ((seventy percent of the "average weekly wage" for the calendar year preceding such June 30th))four hundred ninety-six dollars.

(ii) With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 4, 2009, the maximum amount payable weekly shall be four hundred ninety-six dollars or sixty-three percent of the "average weekly wage" for the calendar year preceding such June 30th, whichever is greater.

(b) The minimum amount payable weekly shall be fifteen percent of the "average weekly wage" for the calendar year preceding such June 30th.

(4) If any weekly benefit, maximum benefit, or minimum benefit amount computed herein is not a multiple of one dollar, it shall be reduced to the next lower multiple of one dollar."

On page 13, line 12, strike all of sections 12, 13, and 14 and insert the following: "NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. A new section is added to chapter 50.20 RCW to read as follows:

With respect to claims with an effective date on or after January 2, 2005 an otherwise eligible individual may not be denied benefits for any week because the individual is a part-time worker and is available for, seeks, applies for, or accepts only work of twenty or fewer hours per week by reason of the application of RCW 50.20.010(1)(c), 50.20.080, or 50.22.020(1) relating to availability for work and active search for work, or failure to apply for or refusal to accept suitable work commensurate with the worker's employment history."

On page 35, line 18, strike all of subsection d.

Renumber the sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

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EFFECT: The weekly benefit amount is calculated by multiplying the average quarterly wages of the individual's two highest quarters of a base year by .039. The maximum weekly benefit is frozen at $496 until 2009 and then is 63% of the average weekly wage for the previous year or $496, whichever is greater. Benefits are available for up to 26 weeks. Removes seasonal worker provisions, definition of part-time worker and transitional training benefits program. Permits part-time employees to receive unemployment benefits.