SB 636 - This act makes several changes to the employment security laws. The act:

(1) Revises the calculation for the state taxable wage base for year 2004 and thereafter;

(2) Removes the compensability of the one-week waiting period during unemployment;

(3) Changes the maximum weekly benefit amount for year 2004 and thereafter, and changes the calculation of that amount;

(4) Revises the calculation of partial benefits claimed after year 2003;

(5) Changes the basis for determining industrial classification divisions for purposes of calculating employer contributions for unemployment insurance from the Standard Industrial Classification manual to the industrial classification system established by the federal government;

(6) Recalculates the contribution rate of a successor employer when there is a difference in rates between the predecessor and successor employers, and revises the rate table; and

(7) Revises the method for determining the annual contribution rate adjustment.

The act contains an emergency clause.

This act is similar to HB 155 (2003).
RICHARD MOORE