SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5353
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Commerce & Labor, February 15, 2013
Title: An act relating to providing information to assist in unemployment insurance overpayment recovery.
Brief Description: Providing information to assist in unemployment insurance overpayment recovery.
Sponsors: Senators Roach and Holmquist Newbry; by request of Employment Security Department.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Commerce & Labor: 2/04/13, 2/15/13 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Holmquist Newbry, Chair; Braun, Vice Chair; Conway, Ranking Member; Hasegawa, Hewitt, Keiser and King.
Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)
Background: Under the state unemployment insurance program, persons who have received benefits to which they are not entitled are liable for repayment of the benefit. The Employment Security Department (ESD) must engage in overpayment detection and recovery actions, and use a variety of tools to find individuals with overpayments, including other government agency records.
Personally identifying information held by government agencies is generally exempt from public disclosure under the state public records act. The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) may disclose personally identifying information obtained from recreational licenses to other government agencies for specific reasons.
Summary of Bill: DFW must disclose personally identifying information, including social security numbers, to ESD for the purpose of overpayment recovery.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill would allow ESD to access DFW records for people who have applied for a fishing or hunting license and get contact information only for those people who owe ESD money. The debt has been perfected; this bill just helps ESD get contact information so they can collect the debt.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Roach, prime sponsor; Neil Gorrell, Tammy Fellin, ESD.