AN ACT Relating to unemployment compensation benefit charges for employers of part-time employees; and amending RCW 50.29.020.

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

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 27, Laws of 1988 and RCW 50.29.020 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) An experience rating account shall be established and maintained for each employer, except employers as described in RCW 50.44.010 and 50.44.030 who have properly elected to make payments in lieu of contributions, taxable local government employers as described in RCW 50.44.035, and those employers who are required to make payments in lieu of contributions, based on existing records of the employment security department. Benefits paid to any eligible individuals shall be charged to the experience rating accounts of each of such individual's employers during the individual's base year in the same ratio that the wages paid by each employer to the individual during the base year bear to the wages paid by all employers to that individual during that base year, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) The legislature finds that certain benefit payments, in whole or in part, should not be charged to the experience rating accounts of employers except those employers described in RCW 50.44.010 and 50.44.030 who have properly elected to make payments in lieu of contributions, taxable local government employers described in RCW 50.44.035, and those employers who are required to make payments in lieu of contributions, as follows:

(a) Benefits paid to any individuals later determined to be ineligible shall not be charged to the experience rating account of any contribution paying employer.

(b) Benefits paid to an individual under the provisions of RCW 50.12.050 shall not be charged to the account of any contribution paying employer if the wage credits earned in this state by the individual during his or her base year are less than the minimum amount necessary to qualify the individual for unemployment benefits.

(c) Benefits paid to an individual filing under the provisions of chapter 50.06 RCW shall not be charged to the experience rating account of any contribution paying employer.

(d) Benefits paid which represent the state's share of benefits payable under chapter 50.22 RCW shall not be charged to the experience rating account of any contribution paying employer.

(e) In the case of individuals who requalify for benefits under RCW 50.20.050 or 50.20.060, benefits based on wage credits earned prior to the disqualifying separation shall not be charged to the experience rating account of the contribution paying employer from whom that separation took place.

(f)(i) Benefits paid to an individual as the result of a determination by the commissioner that no stoppage of work exists, pursuant to RCW 50.20.090, shall not be charged to the experience rating account of any contribution paying employer.

(ii) Benefits paid to an individual under RCW 50.20.090(1) for weeks of unemployment ending before February 20, 1987, shall not be charged to the experience rating account of any base year employer.

(g) In the case of individuals identified under RCW 50.20.015, benefits paid with respect to a calendar quarter, which exceed the total amount of wages earned in the state of Washington in the higher of two corresponding calendar quarters included within the individual's determination period, as defined in RCW 50.20.015, shall not be charged to the experience rating account of any contribution paying employer.

(h) Beginning July 1, 1985, a contribution-paying base year employer, not otherwise eligible for relief of charges for benefits under this section, may receive such relief if:

(i) The benefit charges result from payment to an individual who last left the employ of such employer voluntarily for reasons not attributable to the employer, or was discharged for misconduct connected with his or her work; and

(ii) The employer requests relief of charges in writing within thirty days following mailing to the last known address of the notification of the initial determination of such a claim, stating the date and reason for the last leaving; and

(iii) Upon investigation of the separation, the commissioner rules that the relief should be granted.

(i) Benefits paid to an individual who does not successfully complete an approved on-the-job training program under RCW 50.12.240 shall not be charged to the experience rating account of the contribution paying employer who provided the approved on-the-job training.

(j) Benefits paid resulting from a closure or severe curtailment of operations at the employer's plant, building, work site, or facility due to damage caused by fire, flood, or other natural disaster shall not be charged to the experience rating account of the employer if:

(i) The employer petitions for relief of charges; and

(ii) The commissioner approves granting relief of charges.(k) Any employer who employed a claimant on a part-time basis during the claimant's base year period, and who continues to provide the same level of continuing part-time employment, is eligible to request relief of benefit charges. Such request for relief of benefit charges must be submitted, in writing, within thirty days following mailing of the initial determination of such claim to the last known employer address, stating the nature of the continuing employment relationship.