This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 50.22. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Beginning December 27, 2020, through April 12, 2021, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the employment security department by rule, an individual's eligibility period under RCW 50.22.010(8)(a) shall also include any week that begins in an extended benefit period that is in effect in this state and after the individual exhausted all rights to pandemic emergency unemployment compensation, as established in the CARES act (P.L. 116-136), as amended.
With respect to determining whether the state is in an extended benefit period beginning November 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the employment security department by rule, the state shall disregard the requirement in RCW 50.22.010(1)(b) that no extended benefit period may begin before the fourteenth week following the end of a prior extended benefit period which was in effect.
For purposes of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the department may not adopt a subsequent date by rule if the federal share of extended benefits is less than 50 percent minus any reductions required by the budget control act of 2011, P.L. 112-25.
This section modifies existing section 50.22.010. Here is the modified chapter for context.
As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Extended benefit period" means a period which:
Begins with the third week after a week for which there is an "on" indicator; and
Except as provided in section 1 of this act, ends with the third week after the first week for which there is an "off" indicator: PROVIDED, That no extended benefit period shall last for a period of less than thirteen consecutive weeks, and further that no extended benefit period may begin by reason of an "on" indicator before the fourteenth week after the close of a prior extended benefit period which was in effect with respect to this state.
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There is an "on" indicator for this state for a week if the commissioner determines, in accordance with the regulations of the United States secretary of labor, that for the period consisting of such week and the immediately preceding twelve weeks:
The rate of insured unemployment, not seasonally adjusted, equaled or exceeded one hundred twenty percent of the average of such rates for the corresponding thirteen-week period ending in each of the preceding two calendar years and equaled or exceeded five percent; or
For benefits for weeks of unemployment beginning after March 6, 1993:
(A) The average rate of total unemployment, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the period consisting of the most recent three months for which data for all states are published before the close of the week equals or exceeds six and one-half percent; and
(B) The average rate of total unemployment in the state, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the three-month period referred to in (a)(ii)(A) of this subsection, equals or exceeds one hundred ten percent of the average for either or both of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the two preceding calendar years.
b. This subsection applies as provided under the tax relief, unemployment insurance reauthorization, and job creation act of 2010 (P.L. 111-312) as it existed on December 17, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this subsection:
i. The average rate of insured unemployment, not seasonally adjusted, equaled or exceeded one hundred twenty percent of the average of such rates for the corresponding thirteen-week period ending in all of the preceding three calendar years and equaled or exceeded five percent; or
ii. The average rate of total unemployment, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the period consisting of the most recent three months for which data for all states are published before the close of the week equals or exceeds six and one-half percent; and
iii. The average rate of total unemployment in the state, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the three-month period referred to in (b)(ii) of this subsection, equals or exceeds one hundred ten percent of the average for any of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the three preceding calendar years.
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"High unemployment period" means any period of unemployment beginning after March 6, 1993, during which an extended benefit period would be in effect if:
The average rate of total unemployment, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the period consisting of the most recent three months for which data for all states are published before the close of the week equals or exceeds eight percent; and
The average rate of total unemployment in the state, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the three-month period referred to in (a)(i) of this subsection, equals or exceeds one hundred ten percent of the average for either or both of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the two preceding calendar years.
This subsection applies as provided under the tax relief, unemployment insurance reauthorization, and job creation act of 2010 (P.L. 111-312) as it existed on December 17, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this subsection:
The average rate of total unemployment, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the period consisting of the most recent three months for which data for all states are published before the close of the week equals or exceeds eight percent; and
The average rate of total unemployment in the state, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States secretary of labor, for the three-month period referred to in (a)(i) of this subsection, equals or exceeds one hundred ten percent of the average for any of the corresponding three-month periods ending in the three preceding calendar years.
There is an "off" indicator for this state for a week only if, for the period consisting of such week and immediately preceding twelve weeks, none of the options specified in subsection (2) or (3) of this section result in an "on" indicator.
"Regular benefits" means benefits payable to an individual under this title or under any state law (including benefits payable to federal civilian employees and to ex-servicemen or ex-servicewomen pursuant to 5 U.S.C. chapter 85) other than extended benefits or additional benefits.
"Extended benefits" means benefits payable for weeks of unemployment beginning in an extended benefit period to an individual under this title or under any state law (including benefits payable to federal civilian employees and to ex-servicemen or ex-servicewomen pursuant to 5 U.S.C. chapter 85) other than regular or additional benefits.
"Additional benefits" are benefits totally financed by the state and payable under this title to exhaustees by reason of conditions of high unemployment or by reason of other special factors.
"Eligibility period" of an individual means:
Except as provided in section 1 of this act, the period consisting of the weeks in his or her benefit year which begin in an extended benefit period that is in effect in this state and, if his or her benefit year ends within such extended benefit period, any weeks thereafter which begin in such period; or
For an individual who is eligible for emergency unemployment compensation during the extended benefit period beginning February 15, 2009, the period consisting of the week ending February 28, 2009, and applies as provided under the tax relief, unemployment insurance reauthorization, and job creation act of 2010 (P.L. 111-312) as it existed on December 17, 2010, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this subsection.
"Additional benefit eligibility period" of an individual means the period consisting of the weeks in his or her benefit year which begin in an additional benefit period that is in effect and, if his or her benefit year ends within such additional benefit period, any weeks thereafter which begin in such period.
"Exhaustee" means an individual who, with respect to any week of unemployment in his or her eligibility period:
Has received, prior to such week, all of the regular benefits that were payable to him or her under this title or any other state law (including dependents' allowances and regular benefits payable to federal civilian employees and ex-servicemen or ex-servicewomen under 5 U.S.C. chapter 85) in his or her current benefit year that includes such week; or
Has received, prior to such week, all of the regular benefits that were available to him or her under this title or any other state law (including dependents' allowances and regular benefits available to federal civilian employees and ex-servicemen or ex-servicewomen under 5 U.S.C. chapter 85) in his or her current benefit year that includes such week, after the cancellation of some or all of his or her wage credits or the total or partial reduction of his or her rights to regular benefits: PROVIDED, That, for the purposes of (a) and (b) of this subsection, an individual shall be deemed to have received in his or her current benefit year all of the regular benefits that were payable to him or her, or available to him or her, as the case may be, even though:
As a result of a pending appeal with respect to wages or employment, or both, that were not included in the original monetary determination with respect to his or her current benefit year, he or she may subsequently be determined to be entitled to more regular benefits; or
By reason of the seasonal provisions of another state law, he or she is not entitled to regular benefits with respect to such week of unemployment (although he or she may be entitled to regular benefits with respect to future weeks of unemployment in the next season, as the case may be, in his or her current benefit year), and he or she is otherwise an exhaustee within the meaning of this section with respect to his or her right to regular benefits under such state law seasonal provisions during the season or off season in which that week of unemployment occurs; or
Having established a benefit year, no regular benefits are payable to him or her during such year because his or her wage credits were canceled or his or her right to regular benefits was totally reduced as the result of the application of a disqualification; or
His or her benefit year having ended prior to such week, he or she has insufficient wages or employment, or both, on the basis of which he or she could establish in any state a new benefit year that would include such week, or having established a new benefit year that includes such week, he or she is precluded from receiving regular benefits by reason of the provision in RCW 50.04.030 which meets the requirement of section 3304(a)(7) of the federal unemployment tax act, or the similar provision in any other state law; and
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Has no right for such week to unemployment benefits or allowances, as the case may be, under the railroad unemployment insurance act, the trade expansion act of 1962, and such other federal laws as are specified in regulations issued by the United States secretary of labor; and
Has not received and is not seeking for such week unemployment benefits under the unemployment compensation law of Canada, unless the appropriate agency finally determines that he or she is not entitled to unemployment benefits under such law for such week.
"State law" means the unemployment insurance law of any state, approved by the United States secretary of labor under section 3304 of the internal revenue code of 1954.
Section 1 of this act is remedial and curative in nature and applies retroactively and prospectively to the dates listed in that section.