H. B. 2547


(By Delegate Caputo)
[Introduced January 11, 2006 ; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]




A BILL to amend and reenact §21A-1A-27 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §21A-6-10 and §21A-6-11 of said code, all relating to changing the amount a person can earn while receiving unemployment compensation benefits, without it changing the benefits received, from sixty dollars a week to forty percent of the person's weekly benefit rate.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §21A-1A-27 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that §21A-6-10 and §21A-6-11 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
 ARTICLE 1A. DEFINITIONS.
§21A-1A-27. Total and partial unemployment.
"Total and partial unemployment" means:
(1) An individual is totally unemployed in any week in which such the individual is separated from employment for an employing unit and during which he or she performs no services and with respect to which no wages are payable to him or her.
(2) An individual who has not been separated from employment is partially unemployed in any week in which due to lack of full-time work wages payable to him or her are less than his or her weekly benefit amount plus sixty dollars forty percent of the individual's weekly benefit rate: Provided, That said the individual must have earnings of at least sixty-one dollars forty percent of the individual's weekly benefit rate.
ARTICLE 6. EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY; BENEFITS.

§21A-6-10. Benefit rate -- Total unemployment; annual computation and publication of rates.
Each eligible individual who is totally unemployed in any week shall be paid benefits with respect to that week at the weekly rate appearing in column (C) in the benefit table in this section, on the line on which in column (A) there is indicated the employee's wage class, except as otherwise provided under the term "total and partial unemployment" in section twenty-seven, article one-a of this chapter. The employee's wage class shall be is determined by his or her base period wages as shown in column (B) in the benefit table. The right of an employee to receive benefits shall not be is not prejudiced nor may the amount thereof the benefits be diminished by reason of failure by an employer to pay either the wages earned by the employee or the contribution due on such the wages. An individual who is totally unemployed but earns in excess of sixty dollars forty percent of the individual's weekly benefit rate as a result of odd-job or subsidiary work, or is paid a bonus in any benefit week shall be paid benefits for such the week in accordance with the provisions of this chapter pertaining to benefits for partial unemployment.
The maximum benefit for each wage class shall be is equal to twenty-six times the weekly benefit rate.
The maximum benefit rate shall be is sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the average weekly wage in West Virginia.
On the first day of July of each year, the commissioner shall determine the maximum weekly benefit rate upon the basis of the formula set forth above and shall establish wage classes as are required, increasing or decreasing the amount of the base period wages required for each wage class by one hundred fifty dollars, establishing the weekly benefit rate for each wage class by rounded dollar amount to be fifty-five percent of one fifty-second of the median dollar amount of wages in the base period for such the wage class, and establishing the maximum benefit for each wage class as an amount equal to twenty-six times the weekly benefit rate. The maximum weekly benefit rate, when computed by the commissioner, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of one dollar.
BENEFIT TABLE


A
Wage
Class
B
Wages in
Base Period
C
Weekly
Benefit
Rate
 		Maximum Benefit in Benefit Year
for Total and/or
Partial Unemployment
  Under   $2,200.00 Ineligible  
1 $2,200.00 - 2,349.99 24.00 $ 624.00
2 2,350.00 - 2,499.99 25.00 650.00
3 2,500.00 - 2,649.99 27.00 702.00
4 2,650.00 - 2,799.99 28.00 728.00
5 2,800.00 - 2,949.99 30.00 780.00
6 2,950.00 - 3,099.99 31.00 806.00
7 3,100.00 - 3,249.99 33.00 858.00
8 3,250.00 - 3,399.99 35.00 910.00
9 3,400.00 - 3,549.99 36.00 936.00
10 3,550.00 - 3,699.99 38.00 988.00
11 3,700.00 - 3,849.99 39.00 1,014.00
12 3,850.00 - 3,999.99 41.00 1,066.00
13 4,000.00 - 4,149.99 43.00 1,118.00
14 4,150.00 - 4,299.99 44.00 1,144.00
15 4,300.00 - 4,449.99 46.00 1,196.00
16 4,450.00 - 4,599.99 47.00 1,222.00
17 4,600.00 - 4,749.99 49.00 1,274.00
18 4,750.00 - 4,899.99 51.00 1,326.00
19 4,900.00 - 5,049.99 52.00 1,352.00
20 5,050.00 - 5,199.99 54.00 1,404.00
21 5,200.00 - 5,349.99 55.00 1,430.00
22 5,350.00 - 5,499.99 57.00 1,482.00
23 5,500.00 - 5,649.99 58.00 1,508.00
24 5,650.00 - 5,799.99 60.00 1,560.00
25 5,800.00 - 5,949.99 62.00 1,612.00
26 5,950.00 - 6,099.99 63.00 1,638.00
27 6,100.00 - 6,249.99 65.00 1,690.00
28 6,250.00 - 6,399.99 66.00 1,716.00
29 6,400.00 - 6,549.99 68.00 1,768.00
30 6,550.00 - 6,699.99 70.00 1,820.00
31 6,700.00 - 6,849.99 71.00 1,846.00
32 6,850.00 - 6,999.99 73.00 1,898.00
33 7,000.00 - 7,149.99 74.00 1,924.00
34 7,150.00 - 7,299.99 76.00 1,976.00
35 7,300.00 - 7,449.99 78.00 2,028.00
36 7,450.00 - 7,599.99 79.00 2,054.00
37 7,600.00 - 7,749.99 81.00 2,106.00
38 7,750.00 - 7,899.99 82.00 2,132.00
39 7,900.00 - 8,049.99 84.00 2,184.00
40 8,050.00 - 8,199.99 85.00 2,210.00
41 8,200.00 - 8,349.99 87.00 2,262.00
42 8,350.00 - 8,499.99 89.00 2,314.00
43 8,500.00 - 8,649.99 90.00 2,340.00
44 8,650.00 - 8,799.99 92.00 2,392.00
45 8,800.00 - 8,949.99 93.00 2,418.00
46 8,950.00 - 9,099.99 95.00 2,470.00
47 9,100.00 - 9,249.99 97.00 2,522.00
48 9,250.00 - 9,399.99 98.00 2,548.00
49 9,400.00 - 9,549.99 100.00 2,600.00
50 9,550.00 - 9,699.99 101.00 2,626.00
51 9,700.00 - 9,849.99 103.00 2,678.00
52 9,850.00 - 9,999.99 104.00 2,704.00
53 10,000.00 - 10,149.99 106.00 2,756.00
54 10,150.00 - 10,299.99 108.00 2,808.00
55 10,300.00 - 10,449.99 109.00 2,834.00
56 10,450.00 - 10,599.99 111.00 2,886.00
57 10,600.00 - 10,749.99 112.00 2,912.00
58 10,750.00 - 10,899.99 114.00 2,964.00
59 10,900.00 - 11,049.99 116.00 3,016.00
60 11,050.00 - 11,199.99 117.00 3,042.00
61 11,200.00 - 11,349.99 119.00 3,094.00
62 11,350.00 - 11,499.99 120.00 3,120.00
63 11,500.00 - 11,649.99 122.00 3,172.00
64 11,650.00 - 11,799.99 124.00 3,224.00
65 11,800.00 - 11,949.99 125.00 3,250.00
66 11,950.00 - 12,099.99 127.00 3,302.00
67 12,100.00 - 12,249.99 128.00 3,328.00
68 12,250.00 - 12,399.99 130.00 3,380.00
69 12,400.00 - 12,549.99 131.00 3,406.00
70 12,550.00 - 12,699.99 133.00 3,458.00
71 12,700.00 - 12,849.99 135.00 3,510.00
72 12,850.00 - 12,999.99 136.00 3,536.00
73 13,000.00 - 13,149.99 138.00 3,588.00
74 13,150.00 - 13,299.99 139.00 3,614.00
75 13,300.00 - 13,449.99 141.00 3,666.00
76 13,450.00 - 13,599.99 143.00 3,718.00
77 13,600.00 - 13,749.99 144.00 3,744.00
78 13,750.00 - 13,899.99 146.00 3,796.00
79 13,900.00 - 14,049.99 147.00 3,822.00
80 14,050.00 - 14,199.99 149.00 3,874.00
81 14,200.00 - 14,349.99 150.00 3,900.00
82 14,350.00 - 14,499.99 152.00 3,952.00
83 14,500.00 - 14,649.99 154.00 4,004.00
84 14,650.00 - 14,799.99 155.00 4,030.00
85 14,800.00 - 14,949.99 157.00 4,082.00
86 14,950.00 - 15,099.99 158.00 4,108.00
87 15,100.00 - 15,249.99 160.00 4,160.00
88 15,250.00 - 15,399.99 162.00 4,212.00
89 15,400.00 - 15,549.99 163.00 4,238.00
90 15,550.00 - 15,699.99 165.00 4,290.00
91 15,700.00 - 15,849.99 166.00 4,316.00
92 15,850.00 - 15,999.99 168.00 4,368.00
93 16,000.00 - 16,149.99 170.00 4,420.00
94 16,150.00 - 16,299.99 171.00 4,446.00
95 16,300.00 - 16,449.99 173.00 4,498.00
96 16,450.00 - 16,599.99 174.00 4,524.00
97 16,600.00 - 16,749.99 176.00 4,576.00
98 16,750.00 - 16,899.99 177.00 4,602.00
99 16,900.00 - 17,049.99 179.00 4,654.00
100 17,050.00 - 17,199.99 181.00 4,706.00
101 17,200.00 - 17,349.99 182.00 4,732.00
102 17,350.00 - 17,499.99 184.00 4,784.00
103 17,500.00 - 17,649.99 185.00 4,810.00
104 17,650.00 - 17,799.99 187.00 4,862.00
105 17,800.00 - 17,949.99 189.00 4,914.00
106 17,950.00 - 18,099.99 190.00 4,940.00
107 18,100.00 - 18,249.99 192.00 4,992.00
108 18,250.00 - 18,399.99 193.00 5,018.00
109 18,400.00 - 18,549.99 195.00 5,070.00
110 18,550.00 - 18,699.99 196.00 5,096.00
111 18,700.00 - 18,849.99 198.00 5,148.00
112 18,850.00 - 18,999.99 200.00 5,200.00
113 19,000.00 - 19,149.99 201.00 5,226.00
114 19,150.00 - 19,299.99 203.00 5,278.00
115 19,300.00 - 19,449.99 204.00 5,304.00
116 19,450.00 - 19,599.99 206.00 5,356.00
117 19,600.00 - 19,749.99 208.00 5,408.00
118 19,750.00 - 19,899.99 209.00 5,434.00
119 19,900.00 - 20,049.99 211.00 5,486.00
120 20,050.00 - 20,199.99 212.00 5,512.00
121 20,200.00 - 20,349.99 214.00 5,564.00
122 20,350.00 - 20,499.99 216.00 5,616.00
123 20,500.00 - 20,649.99 217.00 5,642.00
124 20,650.00 - 20,799.99 219.00 5,694.00
125 20,800.00 - 20,949.99 220.00 5,720.00
126 20,950.00 - 21,099.99 222.00 5,772.00
127 21,100.00 - 21,249.99 223.00 5,798.00
128 21,250.00 - 21,399.99 225.00 5,850.00
129 21,400.00 - 21,549.99 227.00 5,902.00
130 21,550.00 - 21,699.99 228.00 5,928.00
131 21,700.00 - 21,849.99 230.00 5,980.00
132 21,850.00 - 21,999.99 231.00 6,006.00
133 22,000.00 - 22,149.99 233.00 6,058.00
134 22,150.00 - 22,299.99 235.00 6,110.00
135 22,300.00 - 22,449.99 236.00 6,136.00
136 22,450.00 - 22,599.99 238.00 6,188.00
137 22,600.00 - 22,749.99 239.00 6,214.00
138 22,750.00 - 22,899.99 241.00 6,266.00
139 22,900.00 - 23,049.99 243.00 6,318.00
140 23,050.00 - 23,199.99 244.00 6,344.00
141 23,200.00 - 23,349.99 246.00 6,396.00
142 23,350.00 - 23,499.99 247.00 6,422.00
143 23,500.00 - 23,649.99 249.00 6,474.00
144 23,650.00 - 23,799.99 250.00 6,500.00
145 23,800.00 - 23,949.99 252.00 6,552.00
146 23,950.00 - 24,099.99 254.00 6,604.00
147 24,100.00 - 24,249.99 255.00 6,630.00
148 24,250.00 - 24,399.99 257.00 6,682.00
149 24,400.00 - 24,549.99 258.00 6,708.00
150 24,550.00 - 24,699.99 260.00 6,760.00
151 24,700.00 - 24,849.99 262.00 6,812.00
152 24,850.00 - 24,999.99 263.00 6,838.00
153 25,000.00 - 25,149.99 265.00 6,890.00
154 25,150.00 - 25,299.99 266.00 6,916.00
155 25,300.00 - 25,449.99 268.00 6,968.00
156 25,450.00 - 25,599.99 269.00 6,994.00
157 25,600.00 - 25,749.99 271.00 7,046.00
158 25,750.00 - 25,899.99 273.00 7,098.00
159 25,900.00 - 26,049.99 274.00 7,124.00
160 26,050.00 - 26,199.99 276.00 7,176.00
161 26,200.00 - 26,349.99 277.00 7,202.00
162 26,350.00 - 26,499.99 279.00 7,254.00
163 26,500.00 - 26,649.99 281.00 7,306.00
164 26,650.00 - 26,799.99 282.00 7,332.00
165 26,800.00 - 26,949.99 284.00 7,384.00
166 26,950.00 - 27,099.99 285.00 7,410.00
167 27,100.00 - 27,249.99 287.00 7,462.00
168 27,250.00 - 27,399.99 289.00 7,514.00
169 27,400.00 - AND OVER 290.00 7,540.00
After he or she has established such the wage classes, the commissioner shall prepare and publish a table setting forth such the information.
Average weekly wage shall be is computed by dividing the number of employees in West Virginia earning wages in covered employment into the total wages paid to employees in West Virginia in covered employment, and by further dividing said the result by fifty-two, and shall be is determined from employer wage and contribution reports for the previous calendar year which are furnished to the department bureau on or before the first day of June following such the calendar year. The average weekly wage, as determined by the commissioner, shall be rounded to the next higher dollar.
The computation and determination of rates as aforesaid shall be completed annually before the first day of July, and any such new wage class, with its corresponding wages in base period, weekly benefit rate, and maximum benefit in a benefit year established by the commissioner in the foregoing manner effective on the first day of July, shall apply only to a new claim established by a claimant on and after said the first day of July, and does not apply to continued claims of a claimant based on his or her new claim established before said the first day of July.
§21A-6-11. Benefit rate -- Partial unemployment.

An eligible individual who is partially unemployed in any week shall, upon claim therefor filed within such the time and in such the manner as the commissioner may by regulation rule prescribe, be paid benefits for such the partial unemployment in an amount equal to his the individual's weekly benefit rate, as determined in accordance with section ten of this article, less that part of wages from any source payable or bonus paid to him or her with respect to such the week which is in excess of sixty dollars forty percent of the individual's weekly benefit rate. Provided, That such The amount of benefits if not a multiple of one dollar shall be computed to the next lowest multiple of one dollar. Such The partial benefits shall be paid to such the individual for the week for which he or she is claiming benefits without regard to the provisions of subdivision (1), section one of this article.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to change the amount a person can earn while receiving unemployment compensation benefits, without it changing the benefits received, from $60 a week to 40% of the person's weekly benefit rate.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.