5041-S.E AMH WALJ LEON 196

ESSB 5041 - H AMD 1141

By Representative Walsh

NOT ADOPTED 04/12/2025

On page 4, line 22, after "(x);" strike "((or))" and insert "or"

On page 4, beginning on line 28, after "emergency" strike all material through "employed" on line 31

On page 8, after line 21, insert the following:

"(6) If an individual's unemployment is due to a strike at the separating employer's factory, establishment, or other premises at which the individual is or was last employed, the benefit payments may not be paid from the unemployment compensation fund, may not be charged to the experience rating account of any employer, may not be factored into the social cost factor for the total taxable payroll for purposes of RCW 50.29.025, and may not be charged to any reimbursable employer. The benefit payments must be paid in accordance with section 6 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 50.16 RCW to read as follows:

The striking worker benefit account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Funds in the account must consist of all contributions collected under section 5 of this act, appropriations and transfers by the legislature, and all other funding directed for deposit into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for providing benefits under section 6 of this act. Only the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 50.24 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall adopt rules establishing requirements for collecting contributions from employees who are members of collective bargaining units to be deposited into the fund under section 4 of this act for the purposes of paying benefits under section 6 of this act through December 31, 2035. The department shall establish a rate for contributions based on an estimate of the benefits projected to be paid to striking workers under section 6 of this act. The rate must be based on a percentage of monthly dues paid to bargaining unit representatives.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 50.20 RCW to read as follows:

If an individual's unemployment is due to a strike at the separating employer's factory, establishment, or other premises at which the individual is or was last employed, those benefit payments must be paid from the account under section 4 of this act. Benefits are subject to the availability of funds."

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

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