Bill > SB5109

This bill proposes to create a wage replacement program for certain Washington workers excluded from unemployment insurance. The key provisions are: - The program will be funded through the newly created Washington Wage Replacement Account and administered by the Department of Employment Security. - Eligible claimants are those who have been denied unemployment benefits under Title 50 RCW due to not being authorized to work in the U.S. at the time the work was performed. - Eligible claimants must meet certain requirements like being a Washington resident, having sufficient work history, and being unemployed through no fault of their own. - Qualified claimants can receive weekly benefits comparable to the state's unemployment insurance program, up to 26 weeks or one-third of their base year wages. - The bill includes provisions to protect the privacy and confidentiality of claimant information and prevent its use for immigration enforcement purposes. - The program is set to begin on January 1, 2026.