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.