WA People
BILL · 2021–22 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5478

SB 5478: Unemployment insurance

Concerning unemployment insurance relief for certain employers.

Summary

  • Creates the Unemployment Insurance Relief Account (UI Relief account).
  • Requires the Employment Security Department (ESD) determine forgiven benefits, based on a calculation, for certain employers which will be reimbursed by the UI Relief account instead of charged to the employers' experience rating accounts.
  • Mandates ESD transfer from the UI Relief account to the unemployment compensation fund an amount equal to the forgiven benefits.

From the Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill Report (ESSB 5478), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 292, Laws of 2021
  1. IntroducedMar 26, 2021
  2. Out of committeeApr 2, 2021
  3. Passed SenateApr 9, 2021
  4. Passed HouseApr 21, 2021
  5. GovernorMay 12, 2021
  6. LawMay 12, 2021
Prime sponsor
Karen Keiser (D-33)
Introduced
March 26, 2021 in the Senate
Last action
May 12, 2021
Session law
Chapter 292, Laws of 2021
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5478, ESSB 5478

AN ACT Relating to unemployment insurance relief for certain employers;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Karen Keiser (D-33)

18 co-sponsors (16 Democrats, 2 Republicans)

Mark Mullet D-5Andy Billig D-3Annette Cleveland D-49Steve Conway D-29Senator D-47Senator D-22Curtis King R-14Patty Kuderer D-48Marko Liias D-21Liz Lovelett D-40Joe Nguyen D-34Emily Randall D-26Christine Rolfes D-23Rebecca Saldaña D-37Derek Stanford D-1Kevin Van De Wege D-24Claire Wilson D-30Jeff Wilson R-19

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed April 9, 2021
Version voted on: ESSB 5478
49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29000
Republican20000
How each member voted

Yea (49)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 21, 2021
Version voted on: ESSB 5478
97 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57000
Republican40001
How each member voted

Yea (97)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage As Amended by the House on Reconsideration

Passed April 22, 2021
Version voted on: ESSB 5478
95 Yea 2 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57000
Republican38201
How each member voted

Yea (95)

Nay (2)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 24, 2021
Version voted on: ESSB 5478
49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29000
Republican20000
How each member voted

Yea (49)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 5/12/2021. (ESSB 5478)
  2. Chapter 292, 2021 Laws. (ESSB 5478)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5478)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5478)
  5. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5478)
  6. President signed. (ESSB 5478)
  7. Senate concurred in House amendments. (ESSB 5478)
  8. Passed final passage; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5478)
  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5478)
  10. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (ESSB 5478)
  11. Returned to second reading for amendment. (ESSB 5478)
  12. Rules suspended. (ESSB 5478)
  13. Vote on third reading will be reconsidered. (ESSB 5478)
  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5478)
  15. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5478)
  16. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5478)
  17. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (ESSB 5478)
  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5478)
  19. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5478)
  20. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5478)
  21. First reading, referred to Appropriations. (ESSB 5478)
  22. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5478)
  23. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5478)
  24. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5478)
  25. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5478)
  26. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  27. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5478)
  28. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  29. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5478)
  30. WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5478)
  31. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5478)
  32. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  33. WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  34. Minority; without recommendation.
  35. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

SB 5478 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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