H-3622.1

HOUSE BILL 2308

ByRepresentatives Slatter, Tharinger, Wylie, and Appleton

AN ACT Relating to requiring employers to periodically report standard occupational classifications or job titles of workers; amending RCW 50.12.070; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

(a) Information collected by the employment security department from employers for the purposes of unemployment insurance requirements includes certain information, such as the employee's wages and hours worked. However, the information does not provide sufficient detail to allow for identification of the occupation of an employee; and

(b) Accurate occupational employment data would be useful in a number of ways. Job seekers use occupational employment and wage data for career planning and to assess occupational-based job opportunities within various industries and geographic areas in the state. Economists and researchers also rely on occupational employment and wage statistics to determine the composition of employment and the scope of business investment in their communities. Economic development professionals utilize employment data to identify the occupational assets of the state's labor markets to assist them in their efforts to attract businesses to their communities. Occupational and wage data are utilized for program planning, evaluating the effectiveness of training programs, and guiding students on their career pathways.

(2) The legislature further finds that:

(a) Without occupational data, the state is limited in its ability to successfully evaluate the effectiveness of job training programs;

(b) Other states recognize the importance of gathering this data and have begun to require employers to identify each employee's occupation; and

(c) Washington's future of work task force recommended adding an "occupation" field to the quarterly employer reporting forms collected by the employment security department to allow for more accurate occupational trend analyses, and more effective evaluation of education and training programs and whether or not they lead to particular occupations.

(3) Therefore, the legislature intends to require that employers include standard occupational classifications or job titles of workers in their quarterly unemployment insurance reports.

Sec. 2. RCW 50.12.070 and 2013 c 250 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) Each employing unit shall keep true and accurate work records, containing such information as the commissioner may prescribe. Such records shall be open to inspection and be subject to being copied by the commissioner or his or her authorized representatives at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary. The commissioner may require from any employing unit any sworn or unsworn reports with respect to persons employed by it, which he or she deems necessary for the effective administration of this title.

(b) An employer who contracts with another person or entity for work subject to chapter 18.27 or 19.28 RCW shall obtain and preserve a record of the unified business identifier account number for and compensation paid to the person or entity performing the work. In addition to the penalty in subsection (3) of this section, failure to obtain or maintain the record is subject to RCW 39.06.010.

(2)(a) Each employer shall register with the department and obtain an employment security account number. Each employer shall make periodic reports at such intervals as the commissioner may by regulation prescribe, setting forth the remuneration paid for employment to workers in its employ, the full names and social security numbers of all such workers, the standard occupational classification or job title of each worker, and the total hours worked by each worker and such other information as the commissioner may by regulation prescribe.

(b) If the employing unit fails or has failed to report the number of hours in a reporting period for which a worker worked, such number will be computed by the commissioner and given the same force and effect as if it had been reported by the employing unit. In computing the number of such hours worked, the total wages for the reporting period, as reported by the employing unit, shall be divided by the dollar amount of the state's minimum wage in effect for such reporting period and the quotient, disregarding any remainder, shall be credited to the worker: PROVIDED, That although the computation so made will not be subject to appeal by the employing unit, monetary entitlement may be redetermined upon request if the department is provided with credible evidence of the actual hours worked. Benefits paid using computed hours are not considered an overpayment and are not subject to collections when the correction of computed hours results in an invalid or reduced claim; however:

(i) A contribution paying employer who fails to report the number of hours worked will have its experience rating account charged for all benefits paid that are based on hours computed under this subsection; and

(ii) An employer who reimburses the trust fund for benefits paid to workers and fails to report the number of hours worked shall reimburse the trust fund for all benefits paid that are based on hours computed under this subsection.

(3) Any employer who fails to keep and preserve records required by this section shall be subject to a penalty determined by the commissioner but not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars or two hundred percent of the quarterly tax for each offense, whichever is greater.

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