WSR 97-21-131

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

[Filed October 21, 1997, 12:12 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amend WAC 192-12-030 to eliminate obsolete employer reports.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 50.12.010 Commissioner's duties and powers, 50.12.040 Rule-making authority, and 50.12.070 Employing unit records and reports.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Certain employer reports listed in the regulation are obsolete and no longer required. These include the various reports for maritime service, the low earnings report, the labor dispute report, and vacation reports. The regulation will be amended to eliminate these reporting requirements. The remainder of the regulation will be rewritten for clarity of language.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Labor reviews the state's administration of the unemployment insurance program to ensure conformity to federal statutes and regulations. The state has broad flexibility in the implementation of unemployment insurance laws as long as conformity is maintained. The proposed regulations will be shared with USDOL Region X staff prior to adoption.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department intends to hold meetings with stakeholders, interested parties, and significantly affected persons to seek their input in the formulation of regulations.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Persons interested in participating in public meetings to discuss the proposed regulatory changes may contact Bob Wagner, Employment Security Department, Unemployment Insurance Division Tax Branch, P.O. Box 9046, Olympia, WA 98507-9046, phone (360) 902-9521, or FAX (360) 902-9556.

Carver Gayton