SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 655

BYHouse Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives R. King, Wang, Cole, Sayan and Unsoeld; by request of Employment Security Department)

Extending coverage of unemployment insurance to agricultural employees.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 25, 1988

Senate Staff:Stephen Boruchowitz (786-7429)

AS OF FEBRUARY 17, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Workers in agricultural employment are covered for unemployment compensation benefits if the employer has paid $20,000 or more in wages for agricultural labor during any quarter in the current or preceding calendar year or has employed ten or more agricultural workers for some part of a day in each of 20 different calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year.

Before an employee is eligible for unemployment compensation, the employee must have 680 hours of covered employment in his or her base year (four of the previous five calendar quarters.)  If an agricultural worker is employed by an employer who does not meet the criteria for inclusion in covered employment, the hours worked for that employer are not "covered" hours.  Under these circumstances, a worker might be employed full-time in agricultural labor but be ineligible for unemployment compensation following a layoff from employment because the hours worked in that labor are not included in calculating "covered hours."

SUMMARY:

Unemployment compensation coverage is extended to all agricultural employees, except for employees under the age of 18 working for agricultural employers who have not paid $20,000 or more in wages for agricultural labor during any quarter in the current or preceding calendar year or who have not employed 10 or more agricultural workers in each of 20 different calendar weeks in that year.  Employers newly covered by the act for unemployment insurance will pay contributions at the rate of 1 percent until the employer is qualified for experience rating.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   yes

Fiscal Note:    requested February 15, 1988

Effective Date:January 1, 1989