BILL REQ. #:  H-4220.2 

Prefiled 01/11/08. Read first time 01/14/08.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing the governor to suspend the waiting week for individuals who are unemployed because of an emergency or disaster; amending RCW 50.20.010; adding a new section to chapter 50.20 RCW; creating a new section; providing a contingent expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 50.20 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The governor may suspend the waiting period requirement in RCW 50.20.010(1)(d) for individuals who are unemployed because of an emergency or disaster as defined in RCW 38.52.010.
     (2) This section expires on the first Sunday of the first week after the commissioner provides written notice to the governor and the office of the code reviser of a determination that results in an "on" indicator as described in RCW 50.22.010.

Sec. 2   RCW 50.20.010 and 2006 c 13 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) An unemployed individual shall be eligible to receive waiting period credits or benefits with respect to any week in his or her eligibility period only if the commissioner finds that:
     (a) He or she has registered for work at, and thereafter has continued to report at, an employment office in accordance with such regulation as the commissioner may prescribe, except that the commissioner may by regulation waive or alter either or both of the requirements of this subdivision as to individuals attached to regular jobs and as to such other types of cases or situations with respect to which the commissioner finds that the compliance with such requirements would be oppressive, or would be inconsistent with the purposes of this title;
     (b) He or she has filed an application for an initial determination and made a claim for waiting period credit or for benefits in accordance with the provisions of this title;
     (c) He or she is able to work, and is available for work in any trade, occupation, profession, or business for which he or she is reasonably fitted.
     (i) With respect to claims that have an effective date before January 4, 2004, to be available for work an individual must be ready, able, and willing, immediately to accept any suitable work which may be offered to him or her and must be actively seeking work pursuant to customary trade practices and through other methods when so directed by the commissioner or the commissioner's agents.
     (ii) With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 4, 2004, to be available for work an individual must be ready, able, and willing, immediately to accept any suitable work which may be offered to him or her and must be actively seeking work pursuant to customary trade practices and through other methods when so directed by the commissioner or the commissioner's agents. If a labor agreement or dispatch rules apply, customary trade practices must be in accordance with the applicable agreement or rules;
     (d) He or she has been unemployed for a waiting period of one week, except as provided in section 1 of this act;
     (e) He or she participates in reemployment services if the individual has been referred to reemployment services pursuant to the profiling system established by the commissioner under RCW 50.20.011, unless the commissioner determines that:
     (i) The individual has completed such services; or
     (ii) There is justifiable cause for the claimant's failure to participate in such services; and
     (f) As to weeks beginning after March 31, 1981, which fall within an extended benefit period as defined in RCW 50.22.010, the individual meets the terms and conditions of RCW 50.22.020 with respect to benefits claimed in excess of twenty-six times the individual's weekly benefit amount.
     (2) An individual's eligibility period for regular benefits shall be coincident to his or her established benefit year. An individual's eligibility period for additional or extended benefits shall be the periods prescribed elsewhere in this title for such benefits.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and the finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   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.