The proposed bill establishes a wage replacement program for Washington workers who are not eligible for unemployment insurance, introducing a new chapter to Title 50 RCW. It defines key terms and sets eligibility criteria, requiring applicants to be Washington residents, have worked at least 680 hours in their base year, and be unemployed through no fault of their own. The program will be managed by a third-party administrator selected by the Department of Employment Security, which will also oversee the newly created Washington wage replacement account. The bill includes provisions for confidentiality of applicants' information and protects applicants' rights to payments from debt collection actions.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws related to employment security, specifying that waivers of rights under the chapter are void and granting the Department of Employment Security authority to implement necessary rules. It modifies employer contribution rates, removing the solvency surcharge for certain years and establishing new surcharges for wage replacement programs starting in 2026. Contributions will be set at a basic rate of one one-hundredth of one percent, with specific exemptions for certain employers. The bill also allows for the appropriation of funds for poverty reduction programs during the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium and ensures that any conflicting provisions with federal requirements will not affect the overall effectiveness of the act.

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