READ FIRST TIME 02/28/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to notice to certain employees of a claim of exemption from paying unemployment insurance taxes; amending RCW 50.44.040; and adding a new section to chapter 50.44 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 50.44.040 and 1977 ex.s. c 292 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     The term "employment" as used in RCW 50.44.010, 50.44.020, and 50.44.030 shall not include service performed:
     (1) In the employ of (a) a church or convention or association of churches, or (b) an organization which is operated primarily for religious purposes and which is operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches; however, the employer shall notify its employees as required by section 2 of this act; or
     (2) By a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church in the exercise of his ministry or by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by such order; or
     (3) ((Before January 1, 1978, in the employ of a nongovernmental educational institution, approved or accredited by the state board of education, which is not an "institution of higher education"; or
     (4))) In a facility conducted for the purpose of carrying out a program of (a) rehabilitation for individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physical or mental deficiency or injury, or (b) providing remunerative work for individuals who because of their impaired physical or mental capacity cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market, by an individual receiving such rehabilitation or remunerative work; or
     (((5))) (4) As part of an unemployment work-relief or work-training program assisted or financed in whole or in part by a federal agency or an agency of a state or political subdivision thereof, by an individual receiving such work-relief or work-training; or
     (((6))) (5) For a custodial or penal institution by an inmate of the custodial or penal institution; or
     (((7))) (6) In the employ of a hospital, if such service is performed by a patient of such hospital; or
     (((8))) (7) In the employ of a school, college, or university, if such service is performed (a) by a student who is enrolled and is regularly attending classes at such school, college, or university, or (b) by the spouse of such a student, if such spouse is advised, at the time such spouse commences to perform such service, that (i) the employment of such spouse to perform such service is provided under a program to provide financial assistance to such student by such school, college, or university, and (ii) such employment will not be covered by any program of unemployment insurance; or
     (((9))) (8) By an individual under the age of twenty-two who is enrolled at a nonprofit or public educational institution which normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly organized body of students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are carried on as a student in a full time program, taken for credit at such institution, which combines academic instruction with work experience, if such service is an integral part of such program, and such institution has so certified to the employee, except that this subsection shall not apply to service performed in a program established for or on behalf of an employer or group of employers; or
     (((10) Before January 1, 1978, in the employ of the state or one of its instrumentalities or a political subdivision or one of its instrumentalities by an individual who is (a) occupying an elective office, or (b) who is compensated solely on a fee or per diem basis; or
     (11) Before January 1, 1978, in the employ of the legislature of the state of Washington by an individual who is compensated pursuant to an agreement which provides for a guaranteed rate of compensation for irregular hours worked; or
     (12))) (9) In the employ of a nongovernmental preschool which is devoted exclusively to the area of child development training of preschool age children through an established curriculum of formal classroom or laboratory instruction which did not employ four or more individuals on each of some twenty days during the calendar year or the preceding calendar year, each day being in a different calendar week; or
     (((13) After December 31, 1977,)) (10) In the employ of the state or any of its instrumentalities or political subdivisions of this state in any of its instrumentalities by an individual in the exercise of duties:
     (a) As an elected official;
     (b) As a member of the national guard or air national guard; or
     (c) In a policymaking position the performance of the duties of which ordinarily do not require more than eight hours per week.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 50.44 RCW to read as follows:
     A church or convention or association of churches, or an organization which is operated primarily for religious purposes and which is operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches shall inform each individual performing services exempt from "employment" under RCW 50.44.040(1) that the individual may not be eligible to receive unemployment benefits based on such services. The employer shall provide a written notice of this exclusion to the individual at the time of hire. The employer shall display a poster giving notice of this exclusion in a conspicuous place. The employer's compliance with these notice requirements shall not affect an individual's eligibility for benefits. The employment security department shall make posters available to employers without charge.