HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2509

As Passed House:

February 11, 2004

Title: An act relating to correcting references to the domestic violence provision in RCW 50.20.050.

Brief Description: Correcting certain references dealing with unemployment compensation.

Sponsors: By Representatives McCoy, Condotta, Conway, McMorris, Moeller and Chase; by request of Employment Security Department.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor: 1/22/04 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/11/04, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; McMorris, Ranking Minority Member; Condotta, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Crouse, Holmquist, Hudgins, Kenney and McCoy.

Staff: Jill Reinmuth (786-7134).

Background:

Individuals are eligible to receive unemployment benefits if they: (1) worked at least 680 hours in covered employment in their base year; (2) were separated from employment through no fault of their own or leave work for good cause; and (3) are able to work and are actively searching for suitable work. Good cause includes leaving work to protect the claimant or an immediate family member from domestic violence.

In 2003, when the Legislature made numerous changes to the Employment Security Act, there were errors in references to the provision making domestic violence good cause for voluntarily quitting work.

Summary of Bill:

Erroneous references to the provision making domestic violence good cause for voluntarily quitting work are corrected.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill makes technical corrections. It is acceptable.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative McCoy, prime sponsor; Tom Dooley, Association of Washington Business; and Mary Clogston, Employment Security Department.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.