5963-S AMH GREE REIN 073

SSB 5963 - H AMD 548

By Representative Green

WITHDRAWN 4/10/2009

On page 23, after line 23, insert the following:

    "Sec. 4.  RCW 50.20.120 and 2009 c 3 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    Except as provided in RCW 50.20.--- (section 2, chapter 3, Laws of 2009), benefits shall be payable as provided in this section.

    (1) For claims with an effective date on or after April 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) For claims with an effective date on or after April 24, 2005, an individual's weekly benefit amount shall be an amount equal to three and eighty-five one-hundredths 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)(a) For claims with an effective date on or after January 3, 2010, in addition to the amount payable weekly under subsection (2) of this section, an individual shall be paid a dependent allowance of five dollars weekly for: (i) Each child who is a dependent of the individual for federal income tax exemptions; and (ii) each child for whom the individual owes child support obligations and for whom no other person is receiving dependent allowances under this subsection.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection:

(i)"Child" means a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis who is: (A) Under eighteen years of age; (B) eighteen years of age or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; or (C) under twenty-four years of age, enrolled as a student, and regularly attending classes, or is between two successive academic years or terms, at an institution of higher education.

(ii) "Institution of higher education" means an educational institution that: (A) Admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; (B) is legally authorized to provide a program of education beyond high school; (C) provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's or higher degree, or provides a program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or offers a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and (D) is a public or other nonprofit institution.

(4) 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. 

    (a) The maximum amount payable weekly shall be either 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))) (5) 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."

    Renumber the sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

    Correct the title.

EFFECT:  Provides for the payment of weekly dependent allowances ($5 per child) in addition to other weekly unemployment benefits.    

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