BILL REQ. #:  H-3934.1 

Read first time 01/16/2004.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to training benefits for pulp, paper, and paperboard workers; amending RCW 50.22.150; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 50.22.150 and 2002 c 149 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to availability of funds, training benefits are available for an individual who is eligible for or has exhausted entitlement to unemployment compensation benefits and who:
     (a) Is a dislocated worker as defined in RCW 50.04.075;
     (b) Except as provided under subsection (2) of this section, has demonstrated, through a work history, sufficient tenure in an occupation or in work with a particular skill set. This screening will take place during the assessment process;
     (c) Is, after assessment of demand for the individual's occupation or skills in the individual's labor market, determined to need job-related training to find suitable employment in his or her labor market. Beginning July 1, 2001, the assessment of demand for the individual's occupation or skill sets must be substantially based on declining occupation or skill sets identified in local labor market areas by the local work force development councils, in cooperation with the employment security department and its labor market information division, under subsection (10) of this section;
     (d) Develops an individual training program that is submitted to the commissioner for approval within sixty days after the individual is notified by the employment security department of the requirements of this section;
     (e) Enters the approved training program by ninety days after the date of the notification, unless the employment security department determines that the training is not available during the ninety-day period, in which case the individual enters training as soon as it is available; and
     (f) Is enrolled in training approved under this section on a full-time basis as determined by the educational institution, and is making satisfactory progress in the training as certified by the educational institution.
     (2) Until June 30, 2002, the following individuals who meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section may, without regard to the tenure requirements under subsection (1)(b) of this section, receive training benefits as provided in this section:
     (a) An exhaustee who has base year employment in the aerospace industry assigned the standard industrial classification code "372" or the North American industry classification system code "336411";
     (b) An exhaustee who has base year employment in the forest products industry, determined by the department, but including the industries assigned the major group standard industrial classification codes "24" and "26" or any equivalent codes in the North American industry classification system code, and the industries involved in the harvesting and management of logs, transportation of logs and wood products, processing of wood products, and the manufacturing and distribution of wood processing and logging equipment; or
     (c) An exhaustee who has base year employment in the fishing industry assigned the standard industrial classification code "0912" or any equivalent codes in the North American industry classification system code.
     (3) An individual is not eligible for training benefits under this section if he or she:
     (a) Is a standby claimant who expects recall to his or her regular employer;
     (b) Has a definite recall date that is within six months of the date he or she is laid off; or
     (c) Is unemployed due to a regular seasonal layoff ((which demonstrates a pattern of unemployment consistent with the provisions of RCW 50.20.015)). Regular seasonal layoff does not include layoff due to permanent structural downsizing or structural changes in the individual's labor market.
     (4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Educational institution" means an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 or an educational institution as defined in RCW 28C.04.410, including equivalent educational institutions in other states.
     (b) "Sufficient tenure" means earning a plurality of wages in a particular occupation or using a particular skill set during the base year and at least two of the four twelve-month periods immediately preceding the base year.
     (c) "Training benefits" means additional benefits paid under this section.
     (d) "Training program" means:
     (i) An education program determined to be necessary as a prerequisite to vocational training after counseling at the educational institution in which the individual enrolls under his or her approved training program; or
     (ii) A vocational training program at an educational institution:
     (A) That is targeted to training for a high demand occupation. Beginning July 1, 2001, the assessment of high demand occupations authorized for training under this section must be substantially based on labor market and employment information developed by local work force development councils, in cooperation with the employment security department and its labor market information division, under subsection (10) of this section;
     (B) That is likely to enhance the individual's marketable skills and earning power; and
     (C) That meets the criteria for performance developed by the work force training and education coordinating board for the purpose of determining those training programs eligible for funding under Title I of P.L. 105-220.
     "Training program" does not include any course of education primarily intended to meet the requirements of a baccalaureate or higher degree, unless the training meets specific requirements for certification, licensing, or for specific skills necessary for the occupation.
     (5) Benefits shall be paid as follows:
     (a)(i) Except as provided in (a)(((iii))) (ii) through (iv) of this subsection, for exhaustees who are eligible under subsection (1) of this section, the total training benefit amount shall be fifty-two times the individual's weekly benefit amount, reduced by the total amount of regular benefits and extended benefits paid, or deemed paid, with respect to the benefit year; or
     (ii) For exhaustees who are eligible under subsection (2) of this section, for claims filed before June 30, 2002, the total training benefit amount shall be seventy-four times the individual's weekly benefit amount, reduced by the total amount of regular benefits and extended benefits paid, or deemed paid, with respect to the benefit year; or
     (iii) For exhaustees eligible under subsection (1) of this section from industries listed under subsection (2)(a) of this section, for claims filed on or after June 30, 2002, but before January 5, 2003, the total training benefit amount shall be seventy-four times the individual's weekly benefit amount, reduced by the total amount of regular benefits and extended benefits paid, or deemed paid, with respect to the benefit year; or
     (iv) The total training benefit amount shall be one hundred fifty-six times the individual's weekly benefit amount, reduced by the total amount of regular benefits and extended benefits paid, or deemed paid, with respect to the benefit year, for exhaustees who:
     (A) Are eligible under subsection (1) of this section;
     (B) Have base year employment in the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry assigned the North American industry classification system code "3221";
     (C) Have claims with an effective date on or after November 30, 2003, and before January 2, 2005; and
     (D) Reside in a county with an annual unemployment rate twenty percent or more above the state average.
     (b) The weekly benefit amount shall be the same as the regular weekly amount payable during the applicable benefit year and shall be paid under the same terms and conditions as regular benefits. The training benefits shall be paid before any extended benefits but not before any similar federally funded program.
     (c)(i) Except as provided in (c)(ii) of this subsection, training benefits are not payable for weeks more than two years beyond the end of the benefit year of the regular claim.
     (ii) For exhaustees described in (a)(iv) of this subsection, training benefits are not payable for weeks more than four years beyond the end of the benefit year of the regular claim.
     (6) The requirement under RCW 50.22.010(10) relating to exhausting regular benefits does not apply to an individual otherwise eligible for training benefits under this section when the individual's benefit year ends before his or her training benefits are exhausted and the individual is eligible for a new benefit year. These individuals will have the option of remaining on the original claim or filing a new claim.
     (7)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, individuals who receive training benefits under this section or under any previous additional benefits program for training are not eligible for training benefits under this section for five years from the last receipt of training benefits under this section or under any previous additional benefits program for training.
     (b) With respect to claims that are filed before January 5, 2003, an individual in the aerospace industry assigned the standard industrial code "372" or the North American industry classification system code "336411" who received training benefits under this section, and who had been making satisfactory progress in a training program but did not complete the program, is eligible, without regard to the five-year limitation of this section and without regard to the requirement of subsection (1)(b) of this section, if applicable, to receive training benefits under this section in order to complete that training program. The total training benefit amount that applies to the individual is seventy-four times the individual's weekly benefit amount, reduced by the total amount of regular benefits paid, or deemed paid, with respect to the benefit year in which the training program resumed and, if applicable, reduced by the amount of training benefits paid, or deemed paid, with respect to the benefit year in which the training program commenced.
     (8) An individual eligible to receive a trade readjustment allowance under chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, shall not be eligible to receive benefits under this section for each week the individual receives such trade readjustment allowance. An individual eligible to receive emergency unemployment compensation, so called, under any federal law, shall not be eligible to receive benefits under this section for each week the individual receives such compensation.
     (9) All base year employers are interested parties to the approval of training and the granting of training benefits.
     (10) By July 1, 2001, each local work force development council, in cooperation with the employment security department and its labor market information division, must identify occupations and skill sets that are declining and occupations and skill sets that are in high demand. For the purposes of RCW 50.22.130 through 50.22.150 and section 9, chapter 2, Laws of 2000, "high demand" means demand for employment that exceeds the supply of qualified workers for occupations or skill sets in a labor market area. Local work force development councils must use state and locally developed labor market information. Thereafter, each local work force development council shall update this information annually or more frequently if needed.
     (11) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.