Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211
02/07/2006 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB136 | |
| SB260 | |
| SB244 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 244 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 260 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 136 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SSSB 136-UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced SSSB 136 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS moved to adopt CSSSSB 136(L&C), version F,
as the working document. There were no objections and it was so
ordered.
CHAIR BUNDE said the only change is an addition of verbiage
"actively seeking work", which he thought would address what he
perceived as "the rocking chair problem." It might make some
people become a little more proactive in seeking work.
TOM NELSON, Director, Division of Employment Security,
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), explained
that SB 136 allows the department to better register and connect
job seekers promptly with the labor market. The Job Center
Network would help workers who might have barriers to employment
to get quickly reemployed.
CHAIR BUNDE asked him to give a background on the
computerization of the job search.
MR. NELSON replied that currently the division uses worker
profiling and reemployment services. This helps them identify
through a series of indicators - such as employment history and
unemployment claims over time - those persons most likely to
exhaust their benefits before they are able to get reemployed
again. The change in SB 136 would allow the division to lower
the bar and reconnect more workers to the labor market and allow
employers to connect with those workers.
1:37:01 PM
CHAIR BUNDE asked if this prevents people who aren't serious
about getting a job from pestering someone to just sign their
card saying they actually looked for a job.
MR. NELSON replied that is correct. The old work search concept
really doesn't work well for employers, because it just required
an employer to check a card indicating someone had looked for a
job. It didn't indicate how serious about employment they were.
Now people will be connected via the proposed electronic labor
exchange system, which will be better able to register and refer
people to work.
1:38:33 PM
CHAIR BUNDE asked if a person is dispatched via computer to
apply for a job and he refuses to comply, are his benefits cut
off.
MR. NELSON replied yes; however, the appeals process for special
circumstances still apply.
1:39:26 PM
COMMISSIONER GREG O'CLARAY, Department of Labor and Workforce
Development (DOLWD), said the amendment in the CS is important.
The department is not trying to put people into jobs they are
not qualified for, but it is concerned about connecting
unemployed workers with job opportunities. Currently, their 24
job centers have 3,200 job orders in the state.
CHAIR BUNDE asked how many people are on unemployment insurance
(UI) right now?
COMMISSIONER O'CLARAY replied about 27,000 people statewide.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if the CS affects union dispatch.
COMMISSIONER O'CLARAY replied no; the unions do a much better
job of actually getting their people lined up for employment
than other organizations and they have had the exemption from
the law for many years. The exemption actually takes the
workload off the job centers.
CHAIR BUNDE noted no new fiscal note for this change.
1:43:06 PM
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS moved to pass CS SSSB 136(L&C) from
committee with individual recommendations and accompanying
fiscal note. Senators Ben Stevens, Bettye Davis, Johnny Ellis,
Ralph Seekins and Chair Bunde voted yea and CS SSSB 136(L&C)
moved from committee.
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