Read first time 01/31/2006.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to making adjustments in the unemployment insurance system to enhance benefit and tax equity; amending 2005 c 133 s 9 (uncodified); and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature hereby recognizes that the joint legislative task force on unemployment insurance benefit equity has undertaken a comprehensive review of the unemployment insurance system, but has not yet reached agreement on its findings and recommendations. The legislature therefore intends to extend the deadline by which the task force must report to the legislature.

Sec. 2   2005 c 133 s 9 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The joint legislative task force on unemployment insurance benefit equity is established. The joint legislative task force shall consist of the following members:
     (i) The chair and ranking minority member of the senate labor, commerce, research and development committee;
     (ii) The chair and ranking minority member of the house commerce and labor committee;
     (iii) Four members representing business, selected from nominations submitted by statewide business organizations representing a cross-section of industries and appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives; and
     (iv) Four members representing labor, selected from nominations submitted by statewide labor organizations representing a cross-section of industries and appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.
     (b) In addition, the employment security department shall cooperate with the task force and maintain a liaison representative, who shall be a nonvoting member. The department shall cooperate with the task force and provide information as the task force may reasonably request.
     (2) The task force shall review the unemployment insurance system, including, but not limited to, whether the benefit structure provides for equitable benefits, whether the structure fairly accounts for changes in the work force and industry work patterns, including seasonality, and for claimants' annual work patterns, whether the tax structure provides for an equitable distribution of taxes, and whether the trust fund is adequate in the long term.
     (3)(a) The task force shall use legislative facilities, and staff support shall be provided by senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research. The task force may hire additional staff with specific technical expertise if such expertise is necessary to carry out the mandates of this study.
     (b) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (c) The expenses of the task force shall be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives.
     (((5))) (4) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by ((January)) March 1, 2006.
     (((6))) (5) This section expires July 1, 2006.