Z-1360.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 6072

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Senators Prentice and Newhouse; by request of Employment Security Department

Read first time 01/11/94.  Referred to Committee on Labor & Commerce.

Allowing alcoholism as defense to disqualification from unemployment compensation benefits.

          AN ACT Relating to disqualification from unemployment compensation benefits; amending RCW 50.20.060; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  RCW 50.20.060 and 1993 c 483 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

          An individual shall be disqualified from benefits beginning with the first day of the calendar week in which he or she has been discharged or suspended for misconduct connected with his or her work and thereafter for five calendar weeks and until he or she has obtained work and earned wages equal to five times his or her benefit amount.  ((Alcoholism shall not constitute a defense to disqualification from benefits due to misconduct.))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this act.  The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is effective for separations after April 2, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 3, 1994.

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