House Sponsors: KENNER. Short description: UNEMP INS-WAGES Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Defines "wages" for calendar year 1998 to include only the remuneration paid to an individual by an employer during that period with respect to employment that does not exceed $10,500 (now, $10,000). Includes in the definition of "wages" for calendar year 1999 and each calendar year thereafter a formula for determining "wages". Redefines "base period". Sets out the "weekly benefit amount" and "prior average weekly wage" for any week beginning on or after January 4, 1998. Sets out additional benefits for individuals to whom benefits are payable and who have a non-working spouse or dependent children with respect to any week beginning on or after January 4, 1998. Sets out the "State 'on' indicator" and "State 'off' indicator". Provides that the Section concerning ineligibility for benefits because an individual voluntarily leaves shall not apply to individuals who leave work due to the loss of child care despite the individual's reasonable attempt to make adequate child care arrangements. States that no individual shall be denied benefits by reason of a lockout subject to certain exceptions. Sets out when an individual is ineligible for benefits on the basis of wages for services in an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity. Makes other changes. FISCAL NOTE (Dpt. Employment Security) Raising the wage base: administrative expenses no significant additional unfunded tax revenue from employers annual average increase of $82 M benefits to claimants unaffected Alternate base period: administrative expenses $12 M to $15 M one-time/$2.5 M annual tax revenue from employers annual increase of $24 M benefits to claimants annual increase of $28 M Increasing weekly benefit: administrative expenses $10,000 to $100,000 one-time tax revenue from employers annual increase of $83 M benefits to claimants annual increase of $27 M Alternate extended benefit trigger: administrative expenses one-time costs relatively insignificant on-going costs underfunded $4,000 per full-time equivalent/ .............. underfunded $4 per extended benefit claim tax revenue from employers hundreds of millions of dollars benefits to claimants hundreds of millions of dollars Waiver of required waiting week, periods of high unemployment: administrative expenses $10,000 to $100,000/up to 6-figures tax revenue from employers annual increase of $50 M to $100 M benefits to claimants annual increase of $50 M to $100 M Expanded eligibility, voluntary leave/child care: administrative expenses no significant additional unfunded tax revenue from employers not able to predict benefits to claimants not able to predict Locked-out employees: administrative expenses unlikely significant additional tax revenue from employers average annual potential $4.2 M benefits to claimants average annual potential $4.2 M Repeal of ineligibility: administrative expenses unlikely significant additional (covered through federal UI administrative grants) tax revenue from employers/benefits to employers estimated at $3,000 per year per claimant, reaching several million dol- lars; these costs would be passed on to ed. institutions in their UI tax bills Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 99-01-12 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status