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                          HOUSE BILL 2429

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State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Representatives Conway, Clements and Edwards; by request of Employment Security Department

Read first time 01/13/2000.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Addressing the eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits when an employee voluntarily participates in an employer initiated layoff.

    AN ACT Relating to eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits when an employee voluntarily participates in an employer initiated layoff; adding a new section to chapter 50.20 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 50.20 RCW to read as follows:

    An individual shall not be considered to have left work voluntarily or to have been discharged for misconduct when:

    (1) The employer takes the first action by announcing to its employees that the employer plans to reduce its work force and that employees can offer to be one of the workers who will be laid off; and

    (2) The individual offers to be one of the employees included in the layoff or reduction-in-force; and

    (3) The employer determines which individuals are laid off or released through a reduction-in-force; and

    (4) The employer takes the final action by terminating the employer-employee relationship with that individual.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  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. 3.  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.

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