BILL REQ. #:  S-4089.1 

Read first time 01/25/12.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection.

     AN ACT Relating to shared work; amending RCW 50.60.010; adding a new section to chapter 50.60 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 50.60.010 and 1983 c 207 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In order to provide an economic climate conducive to the retention of skilled workers in industries adversely affected by general economic downturns and to supplement depressed buying power of employees affected by such downturns, the legislature finds that the public interest would be served by the enactment of laws providing greater flexibility in the payment of unemployment compensation benefits in situations where qualified employers elect to retain employees at reduced hours rather than instituting layoffs.
     (2) The legislature further finds that an expansion of shared work through increased marketing will have a substantial positive effect on employment in Washington and provide benefits to communities, employers, and employees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 50.60 RCW to read as follows:
     The employment security department must expand its efforts in marketing shared work compensation plans with a goal of doubling the number of employers with active plans by June 30, 2013.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   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. 5   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.