SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6567

BYSenators Lee and Smitherman; by request of Employment Security Department

Revising the definition of benefit year for unemployment compensation.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 31, 1990; February 1, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; McDonald, McMullen, Matson, Murray, Saling, Smitherman, West, Williams.

Senate Staff:Forrest Bathurst (786-7429)

                February 12, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 1990

BACKGROUND:

States are required to impose a requalification earnings test for individuals establishing a second claim for unemployment benefits associated with the same spell of unemployment.  Washington State requires that claimants have returned to work and earned at least six times their weekly benefit amount before a second claim can be established.

The language governing the period of time in which claimants can earn the six times weekly amount of benefits has a technical error that, in 2 percent of cases, can reduce the period of time from one year to as little as a few weeks.

SUMMARY:

The initial date of separation from employment in the previous benefit year is used as the beginning of the earnings period.

If any parts of this act are inconsistent with federal regulations, those inconsistent parts are void and the remaining parts of the act shall be implemented.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified:   Graeme Sackrison, ESD