Post-disaster worker benefit bill passes House

February 19, 2008 

OLYMPIA – Legislation that would look at how to get unemployment benefits out sooner after emergencies cleared the House late Monday by a vote of 94 to one.

Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, wrote the bill in response to the recent wind storm and floods that left many temporarily unemployed.

“This bill addresses a huge hole in our emergency response,” Van De Wege said.  “You don’t make disaster victims wait arbitrary timelines for relief—you get them the help as soon as you can.”

Right now there is a one-week waiting period to be eligible to collect benefits.  The bill compels the Employment Security Department and the Military Department to find a way around Federal penalties for waiving the waiting week. 

Van De Wege is eager to get the legislation, House Bill 2626, into law so the state can address the problem soon.

“The storms are going to continue coming and this problem isn’t going away,” Van De Wege said.  “Hard-working people pay unemployment insurance to the state, they deserve immediate access to it when a disaster causes them to hit hard times.”

 The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration there.