SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2344

As of February 13, 2012

Title: An act relating to not disqualifying certain corporate officers from receiving unemployment benefits.

Brief Description: Authorizing certain corporate officers to receive unemployment benefits.

Sponsors: House Committee on Labor & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Angel, Sells, Condotta and Moscoso).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/12, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection: 2/16/12.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: The unemployment compensation system provides partial wage replacement for individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Generally, benefits are payable to individuals who are unemployed and who meet other eligibility requirements. An individual is unemployed if the individual performs no paid services or performs less than full-time work.

A corporate officer who owns at least 10 percent of the corporation's outstanding stock, or a corporate officer who is a family member of an officer who owns at least 10 percent of the corporation's stock, is not considered unemployed in any week during the officer's term of office or ownership in the corporation, even if wages are not being paid. Such an officer will be considered unemployed upon dissolution of the corporation or if the officer permanently resigns or is permanently removed from their appointment.

Summary of Bill: A corporate officer is unemployed if the corporate officer's covered base-year wages with that corporation are less than 25 percent of the corporate officer's total covered base-year wages.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available. New fiscal note requested on February 12, 2012.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on October 28, 2012.