The bill establishes a wage replacement program for Washington workers who are not covered by unemployment insurance, defining key terms and setting eligibility criteria, such as residency, a minimum of 680 hours worked in the base year, and being unemployed through no fault of their own. It creates the Washington wage replacement account to fund the program and assigns a third-party administrator to manage its implementation. An advisory committee will oversee the program, ensuring it meets the needs of the target population, while provisions are included to protect applicants' confidentiality, prohibit discrimination, and exempt payments from debt collection actions.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws related to employment security, clarifying that waivers of rights to payments are void and granting the Department of Employment Security authority to adopt necessary rules. It revises employer contribution rates, eliminating the solvency surcharge and introducing a wage replacement program surcharge. The bill also allows for the appropriation of funds for poverty reduction programs during the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium and establishes a new chapter in the law, Title 50C RCW, to encompass these changes.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 50.29.041, 50.24.014
Substitute Bill: 50.29.041, 50.24.014