BILL REQ. #:  S-3868.1 

Read first time 01/19/12.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation.

     AN ACT Relating to encouraging economic development by requiring the employment assistance program to include certain job placement services with private employers; amending RCW 50.62.030; and creating a new section.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 50.62.030 and 1995 c 135 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     Job service resources ((shall)) must be used to assist with the reemployment of unemployed workers using the most efficient and effective means of service delivery. The job service program of the employment security department may undertake any program or activity for which funds are available and which furthers the goals of this chapter. These programs and activities ((shall)) include, but are not limited to:
     (1) Giving older unemployed workers and the long-term unemployed the highest priority for all services made available under this section. The employment security department ((shall)) must make the services provided under this chapter available to the older unemployed workers and the long-term unemployed as soon as they register under the employment assistance program;
     (2) Supplementing basic employment services, with special job search and claimant placement assistance designed to assist unemployment insurance claimants to obtain employment;
     (3) Providing employment services, such as recruitment, screening, and referral of qualified workers, to agricultural areas where these services have in the past contributed to positive economic conditions for the agricultural industry; ((and))
     (4) Providing otherwise unobtainable information and analysis to the legislature and program managers about issues related to employment and unemployment; and
     (5) Providing placement services with private employers for individuals who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. For calendar years 2012 and 2013, individuals placed with private employers under this subsection are exempt from unemployment compensation coverage under RCW 50.44.040(4) for the first six months after hiring and the individuals must be so advised by the department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements which 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 hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. The rules 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.