SF3216 Summary

• Changes new employer tax rate assignment effective January 1, 2018 to use average industry experience rating instead of separate high-risk industry rates for construction, mining, concrete, and road building employers.

• Modifies unemployment benefit application procedures by allowing applications to be backdated up to one week if requested within seven calendar days, with conditions for benefit account withdrawal and establishment.

• Expands quit from employment exceptions to include unsuitable employment, medical necessity, child care loss, domestic abuse/sexual assault/stalking, and relocation to accompany military spouse or spouse with transferred job.

• Increases timeframes for filing continued unemployment benefit requests from three to four calendar weeks for mail and electronic submissions, with good cause exceptions.

• Clarifies definitions, penalty assessments for fraud (40% of overpaid amount), determination timelines (48 months for fraud-related overpayments), and collection procedures for unemployment benefit overpayments.