SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1684

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Commerce & Labor, March 27, 2013

Title: An act relating to defining suitable work to include a minimum age requirement.

Brief Description: Defining suitable work to include a minimum age requirement.

Sponsors: Representatives Reykdal, Manweller, Sells and Ryu.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/27/13, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Commerce & Labor: 3/25/13, 3/27/13 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Holmquist Newbry, Chair; Braun, Vice Chair; Conway, Ranking Member; Hasegawa and Keiser.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: An individual is eligible for unemployment insurance benefits if that individual worked at least 680 hours in covered employment in the last year; became unemployed through no fault of the individual's own or quit work for good cause; and is physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking suitable work.

Suitable work is employment in an occupation in keeping with the individual's work experience, education, or training. If the individual has no work experience, education, or training for employment available in the general area, suitable work is any work that the individual has the physical and mental ability to perform. In making a suitable work determination, the Employment Security Department will consider other factors, including the degree of risk involved to the individual's health, safety, and morals; and the individual's physical fitness.

Summary of Bill: Work for which an individual does not meet minimum age requirements is not suitable work.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The bill is simple and provides that applications for jobs for which you are not age eligible do not count toward meeting the job search requirements.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Reykdal, prime sponsor.