To repeal sections 288.050, 288.070, 288.100, 288.110, 288.113, 288.130, 288.140, 288.160, 288.190 and 288.200, RSMo 1994, and sections 288.030, 288.036, RSMo Supp. 1995, relating to streamlining of employment security programs and services, and to enact twelve new sections relating to the same subject, with a delayed effective date for a certain section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI,

AS FOLLOWS:

Section A. Sections 288.050, 288.070, 288.100, 288.110, 288.113, 288.130, 288.140, 288.160, 288.190 and 288.200, RSMo 1994, and sections 288.030, 288.036, RSMo Supp. 1995, are repealed and twelve new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 288.030, 288.036, 288.050, 288.070, 288.100, 288.110, 288.113, 288.130, 288.140, 288.160, 288.190 and 288.200, to read as follows:

288.030. 1. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Appeals tribunal" means a referee or a body consisting of three referees appointed to conduct hearings and make decisions on appeals from administrative determinations, petitions for reassessment, and claims referred pursuant to subsection 2 of section 288.070;

(2) "Base period" means the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual's benefit year;

(3) "Benefit year" means the one-year period beginning with the first day of the first week with respect to which an insured worker first files an initial claim for determination of his insured status, and thereafter the one-year period beginning with the first day of the first week with respect to which the individual, providing he is then an insured worker, next files such an initial claim after the end of his last preceding benefit year;

(4) "Benefits" means the money payments payable to an insured worker, as provided in this chapter, with respect to his unemployment;

(5) "Calendar quarter" means the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March thirty-first, June thirtieth, September thirtieth, or December thirty-first;

(6) "Claimant" means an individual who has filed an initial claim for determination of his status as an insured worker, a notice of unemployment, a certification for waiting week credit, or a claim for benefits;

(7) "Commission" means the labor and industrial relations commission of Missouri;

(8) "Common paymaster" means two or more related corporations in which one of the corporations has been designated to disburse remuneration to concurrently employed individuals of any of the related corporations;

(9) "Contributions" means the money payments to the unemployment compensation fund required by this chapter, exclusive of interest and penalties;

(10) "Decision" means a ruling made by an appeals tribunal or the commission after a hearing;

(11) "Deputy" means a representative of the division designated to make investigations and administrative determinations on claims or matters of employer liability or to perform related work;

(12) "Determination" means any administrative ruling made by the division without a hearing;

(13) "Director" means the administrative head of the division of employment security;

(14) "Division" means the division of employment security which administers this chapter;

(15) "Employing unit" means any individual, organization, partnership, corporation, common paymaster, or other legal entity, including the legal representatives thereof, which has or, subsequent to June 17, 1937, had in its employ one or more individuals performing services for it within this state. All individuals performing services within this state for any employing unit which maintains two or more separate establishments within this state shall be deemed to be employed by a single employing unit for all the purposes of this chapter. Each individual engaged to perform or to assist in performing the work of any person in the service of an employing unit shall be deemed to be engaged by such employing unit for all the purposes of this chapter, whether such individual was engaged or paid directly by such employing unit or by such person, provided the employing unit had actual or constructive knowledge of the work;

(16) "Employment office" means a free public employment office operated by this or any other state as a part of a state controlled system of public employment offices, including any location designated by the state as being a part of the one-stop career system;

(17) "Equipment" means a motor vehicle, straight truck, tractor, semi-trailer, full trailer, any combination of these and any other type of equipment used by authorized carriers in the transportation of property for hire;

(18) "Fund" means the unemployment compensation fund established by this chapter;

(19) "Governmental entity" means the state, any political subdivision thereof, any instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing which is wholly owned by this state and one or more other states or political subdivisions and any instrumentality of this state or any political subdivision thereof and one or more other states or political subdivisions;

(20) "Initial claim" means [a written] an application, in a form prescribed by the division, made by an individual for the determination of [his] the individual's status as an insured worker;

(21) "Insured work" means employment in the service of an employer;

(22) As to initial claims filed after December 31, 1990, "insured worker" means a worker who has been paid wages for insured work in the amount of one thousand dollars or more in at least one calendar quarter of his base period and total wages in his base period equal to at least one and one-half times the insured wages in that calendar quarter of the base period in which the worker's insured wages were the highest, or in the alternative, a worker who has been paid wages in at least two calendar quarters of his base period and whose total base period wages are at least one and one-half times the maximum taxable wage base, taxable to any one employer, in accordance with subdivision (1) of section 288.036. For the purposes of this definition, "wages" shall be considered as wage credits with respect to any benefit year, only if such benefit year begins subsequent to the date on which the employing unit by which such wages were paid has become an employer;

(23) "Lessor", in a lease, means the party granting the use of equipment, with or without a driver to another;

(24) "Referee" means a representative of the division designated to serve on an appeals tribunal;

(25) "State" includes, in addition to the states of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Dominion of Canada;

(26) (a) An individual shall be deemed "totally unemployed" in any week during which he performs no services and with respect to which no wages are payable to him;

(b) An individual shall be deemed "partially unemployed" in any week of less than full-time work if the wages payable to him for such week do not equal or exceed his weekly benefit amount plus twenty dollars;

(c) An individual's "week of unemployment" shall begin the first day of the calendar week in which he registers at an employment office except that, if for good cause his registration is delayed, the week of unemployment shall begin the first day of the calendar week in which he would have otherwise registered. The requirement of registration may by regulation be postponed or eliminated in respect to claims for partial unemployment or may by regulation be postponed in case of a mass layoff due to a temporary cessation of work;

(27) "Waiting week" means the first week of unemployment for which a claim is allowed in a benefit year or if no waiting week has occurred in a benefit year in effect on the effective date of a shared work plan, the first week of participation in a shared work unemployment compensation program under section 288.500.

2. The Missouri average annual wage shall be computed as of June thirtieth of each year, and shall be applicable to the following calendar year. The Missouri average annual wage shall be calculated by dividing the total wages reported as paid for insured work in the preceding calendar year by the average of mid-month employment reported by employers for the same calendar year. The Missouri average weekly wage shall be computed by dividing the Missouri average annual wage as computed in this subsection by fifty-two.

288.036. "Wages" means all remuneration, payable or paid, for personal services including commissions and bonuses and, except as provided in subdivision (8) of this section, the cash value of all remuneration paid in any medium other than cash. Gratuities, including tips received from persons other than the employing unit, shall be considered wages only if required to be reported as wages under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 U.S.C. Sec. 3306, and shall be, for the purposes of this chapter, treated as having been paid by the employing unit. Severance pay shall be considered as wages to the extent required under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 U.S.C. Section 3306(b). Vacation pay and holiday pay shall be considered as wages for the week with respect to which it is payable. The term "wages" shall not include:

(1) For the purposes of determining the amount of contributions due and contribution rates, that part of the remuneration for employment paid to an individual by an employer or the employer's predecessors which is in excess of seven thousand dollars for the calendar years 1988 through 1992, seven thousand five hundred dollars for the calendar year 1993, eight thousand five hundred dollars for the calendar years 1994 and 1995 and each calendar year thereafter, unless that part of the remuneration is subject to a tax under a federal law imposing a tax against which credit may be taken for contributions required to be paid into a state unemployment fund; except that:

(a) In addition to the taxable wage, as defined in this subdivision, if on December 31, 1995, or on any December thirty-first thereafter, the balance in the unemployment insurance trust fund, less any federal advances, is less than one hundred million dollars, then the amount of the taxable wage then in effect shall be increased by five hundred dollars for all succeeding calendar years;

(b) If on December 31, 1995, or any December thirty-first thereafter, the balance in the unemployment insurance trust fund, less any federal advances, is two hundred and fifty million dollars or more, then the amount of the taxable wage then in effect shall be reduced by five hundred dollars, but not below that part of the remuneration which is subject to a tax under a federal law imposing a tax against which credit may be taken for contributions required to be paid into a state unemployment fund;

(2) The amount of any payment made (including any amount paid by an employing unit for insurance or annuities, or into a fund, to provide for any such payment) to, or on behalf of, an individual under a plan or system established by an employing unit which makes provision generally for individuals performing services for it or for a class or classes of such individuals, on account of:

(a) Sickness or accident disability, but in case of payments made to an employee or any of his dependents this paragraph shall exclude from the term "wages" only payments which are received under a workers' compensation law; or

(b) Medical and hospitalization expenses in connection with sickness or accident disability; or

(c) Death;

(3) The amount of any payment on account of sickness or accident disability, or medical or hospitalization expenses in connection with sickness or accident disability, made by an employing unit to, or on behalf of, an individual performing services for it after the expiration of six calendar months following the last calendar month in which the individual performed services for such employing unit;

(4) The amount of any payment made by an employing unit to, or on behalf of, an individual performing services for it or his beneficiary:

(a) From or to a trust described in 26 U.S.C. 401(a) which is exempt from tax under 26 U.S.C. 501(a) at the time of such payment unless such payment is made to an employee of the trust as remuneration for services rendered as such an employee and not as a beneficiary of the trust; or

(b) Under or to an annuity plan which, at the time of such payments, meets the requirements of section 404(a)(2) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.A. Sec. 404);

(5) The amount of any payment made by an employing unit (without deduction from the remuneration of the individual in employment) of the tax imposed under section 3101 of the Federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.A. Sec. 3101) upon an individual with respect to remuneration paid to an employee for domestic service in a private home or for agricultural labor;

(6) Remuneration paid in any medium other than cash to an individual for services not in the course of the employing unit's trade or business;

(7) Remuneration paid in the form of meals provided to an individual in the service of an employing unit where such remuneration is furnished on the employer's premises and at the employer's convenience, except that remuneration in the form of meals that is considered wages and required to be reported as wages under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 U.S.C. Sec. 3306 shall be reported as wages as required thereunder;

(8) For the purpose of determining wages paid for agricultural labor as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision (1) of subsection 12 of section 288.034 and for domestic service as defined in subsection 13 of section 288.034, only cash wages paid shall be considered[.];

(9) Any payment to, or on behalf of, an employee or the employee's beneficiary under a cafeteria plan, if such payment would not be treated as wages under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act.

288.050. 1. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this law, a claimant shall be disqualified for waiting week credit or benefits until after he has earned wages for work insured under the unemployment compensation laws of any state equal to ten times his weekly benefit amount if the deputy finds:

(1) That he has left his work voluntarily without good cause attributable to his work or to his employer; except that he shall not be disqualified:

(a) If the deputy finds he quit such work for the purpose of accepting a more remunerative job which he did accept and earn some wages therein;

(b) If he quit temporary work to return to his regular employer; [or]

(c) If the deputy finds that the individual quit work, which would have been determined not suitable in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 3 of subsection 1 of this section, within twenty-eight calendar days of the first day worked; or

(d) As to initial claims filed after December 31, 1988, if the claimant presents evidence supported by competent medical proof that she was forced to leave her work because of pregnancy, notified her employer of such necessity as soon as practical under the circumstances, and returned to that employer and offered her services to that employer as soon as she was physically able to return to work, as certified by a licensed and practicing physician, but in no event later than ninety days after the termination of the pregnancy. An employee shall have been employed for at least one year with the same employer before she may be provided benefits under the provisions of this paragraph;

(2) That he has retired pursuant to the terms of a labor agreement between his employer and a union duly elected by the employees as their official representative or in accordance with an established policy of his employer; or

(3) That he failed without good cause either to apply for available suitable work when so directed by the deputy, or to accept suitable work when offered him, either through the division or directly by an employer by whom the individual was formerly employed, or to return to his customary self-employment, if any, when so directed by the deputy.

(a) In determining whether or not any work is suitable for an individual, the division shall consider, among other factors and in addition to those enumerated in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, the degree of risk involved to his health, safety and morals, his physical fitness and prior training, his experience and prior earnings, his length of unemployment, his prospects for securing work in his customary occupation, the distance of available work from his residence and his prospect of obtaining local work; except that, if an individual has removed himself from the locality in which he actually resided when he was last employed to a place where there is less probability of his employment at his usual type of work and which is more distant from or otherwise less accessible to the community in which he was last employed, work offered by his most recent employer if similar to that which he performed in his last employment and at wages, hours, and working conditions which are substantially similar to those prevailing for similar work in such community, or any work which he is capable of performing at the wages prevailing for such work in the locality to which he has removed, if not hazardous to his health, safety or morals, shall be deemed suitable for him;

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this law, no work shall be deemed suitable and benefits shall not be denied under this law to any otherwise eligible individual for refusing to accept new work under any of the following conditions:

a. If the position offered is vacant due directly to a strike, lockout, or other labor dispute;

b. If the wages, hours, or other conditions of the work offered are substantially less favorable to the individual than those prevailing for similar work in the locality;

c. If as a condition of being employed the individual would be required to join a company union or to resign from or refrain from joining any bona fide labor organization.

2. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this law, if a deputy finds that a claimant has been discharged for misconduct connected with his work, such claimant, depending upon the seriousness of the misconduct as determined by the deputy according to the circumstances in each case, shall be disqualified for waiting week credit or benefits for not less than four nor more than sixteen weeks for which he claims benefits and is otherwise eligible. In addition to the disqualification for benefits under this provision the division may in the more aggravated cases of misconduct cancel all or any part of the individual's wage credits, which were established through his employment by the employer who discharged him, according to the seriousness of the misconduct. A disqualification provided for under this subsection shall not apply to any week which occurs after the claimant has earned wages for work insured under the unemployment compensation laws of any state in an amount equal to eight times his weekly benefit amount.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1 of this section, a claimant may not be determined to be disqualified for benefits because the claimant is in training approved under section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, (19 U.S.C.A. Sec. 2296, as amended), or because the claimant left work which was not "suitable employment" to enter such training. For the purposes of this subsection "suitable employment" means, with respect to a worker, work of a substantially equal or higher skill level than the worker's past adversely affected employment, and wages for such work at not less than eighty percent of the worker's average weekly wage as determined for the purposes of the Trade Act of 1974.

288.070. 1. All claims shall be made in accordance with such regulations as the division may prescribe; except that such regulations shall not require the filing of a claim for benefits by the claimant in person for a week of unemployment occurring immediately prior to [his] the claimant's reemployment, but claims in such cases may be made by mail, or otherwise if authorized by regulation. Notice of each initial claim filed by an insured worker which establishes the beginning of [his] the claimant's benefit year shall be promptly mailed by the division to each base period employer of such individual and to the last employing unit whose name is furnished by the individual when [he] the individual files such claim. In similar manner, a notice of each renewed claim filed by an insured worker during a benefit year after a period in such year during which [he] the insured worker was employed shall be given to the last employing unit whose name is furnished by the individual when [he] the individual files such renewed claim or to any other base period or subsequent employer of the worker who has requested such a notice. Any such base period employer or any employing unit, which employed the claimant since the beginning of the base period, who within ten calendar days after the mailing of notice of the initial claim or a renewed claim to [his or its] the employer or employing unit's last known address files a written protest against the allowance of benefits, and any employing unit from whom the claimant was separated during a week of continued claim other than a week in which an initial or renewed claim is effective, shall be deemed an interested party to any determination allowing benefits during the benefit year until such time as the issue or issues raised by the protest are resolved by a determination or decision which has become final.

2. A deputy shall promptly examine each initial claim and make a determination of the claimant's status as an insured worker. Each such determination shall be based on a written statement showing the amount of wages for insured work paid to the claimant by each employer during [his] the claimant's base period and shall include a finding as to whether such wages meet the requirements for [him] the claimant to be an insured worker, and, if so, the first day of [his] the claimant's benefit year, [his] the claimant's weekly benefit amount, and the maximum total amount of benefits which may be payable to [him] the claimant for weeks of unemployment in [his] the claimant's benefit year. The deputy shall in respect to all claims for benefits thereafter filed by such individual in [his] the claimant's benefit year make a written determination as to whether and in what amount the claimant is entitled to benefits for the week or weeks with respect to which the determination is made. Whenever claims involve complex questions of law or fact, the deputy, with the approval of the director, may refer such claims to the appeals tribunal, without making a determination, for a fair hearing and decision as provided in section 288.190.

3. The deputy shall, in writing, promptly notify the claimant of [his] the deputy's determination on an initial claim, including the reason therefor, and a copy of the written statement as provided in subsection 2 of this section. The deputy shall promptly notify the claimant and all other interested parties of [his] the deputy's determination on any claim for benefits and shall give the reason therefor; except that, where a determination on a later claim for benefits in a benefit year is the same as the determination on a preceding claim, no additional notice shall be given. A determination shall be final, when unappealed, in respect to any claim to which it applies except that an appeal from a determination on a claim for benefits shall be considered as an appeal from all later claims to which the same determination applies. The deputy may, however, not later than one year following the end of a benefit year, for good cause, reconsider any determination on any claim and shall promptly notify the claimant and other interested parties of [his] the deputy's redetermination and the reasons therefor. Whenever the deputy shall have notified any interested employer of the denial of benefits to a claimant for any week or weeks and shall thereafter allow benefits to such claimant for a subsequent week or weeks, [he] the deputy shall notify such interested employer of the beginning date of the allowance of benefits for such subsequent period.

4. Unless the claimant or any interested party within [fifteen] thirty calendar days after notice of such determination is either delivered in person or mailed to the last known address of such claimant or interested party files an appeal from such determination, it shall be final. If, pursuant to a determination or redetermination, benefits are payable in any amount or in respect to any week as to which there is no dispute, such amount of benefits shall be promptly paid regardless of any appeal.

5. Benefits shall be paid promptly in accordance with a determination or redetermination under this section, or the decision of an appeals tribunal, the labor and industrial relations commission of Missouri or a reviewing court upon the issuance of such determination, redetermination or decision (regardless of the pendency of the period to apply for reconsideration, file an appeal, or petition for judicial review as provided in this section, or section 288.190, 288.200, or 288.210, as the case may be, or the pendency of any such application, appeal, or petition) unless and until such determination, redetermination or decision has been modified or reversed by a subsequent redetermination or decision, in which event benefits shall be paid or denied for weeks of unemployment thereafter in accordance with such modified or reversed redetermination or decision.

6. Benefits paid during the pendency of the period to apply for reconsideration, file an appeal, or petition for judicial review or during the pendency of any such application, appeal, or petition shall be considered as having been due and payable regardless of any redetermination or decision unless the modifying or reversing redetermination or decision establishes that the claimant willfully failed to disclose or falsified any fact which would have disqualified [him] the claimant or rendered [him] the claimant ineligible for such benefits as contemplated in subsection 9 of section 288.380.

7. Benefits paid during the pendency of the period to apply for reconsideration, file an appeal, or petition for judicial review or during the pendency of any such application, appeal, or petition which would not have been payable under a redetermination or decision which becomes final shall not be chargeable to any employer. Beginning with benefits paid on and after January 1, 1998, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to employers who have elected to make payments in lieu of contributions pursuant to subsection 3 of section 288.090.

8. The ten-day period mentioned in subsection 1 of this section and the [fifteen-day] thirty- day period mentioned in subsection 4 of this section may, for good cause, be extended.

288.100. 1. (1) The division shall maintain a separate account for each employer which is paying contributions, and shall credit [his] the employer's account with all contributions which [he] the employer has paid. A separate account shall be maintained for each employer making payments in lieu of contributions to which shall be credited all such payments made. The account shall also show payments due as provided in section 288.090. The division may close and cancel such separate account after a period of four consecutive calendar years during which such employer has had no employment in this state subject to contributions. Nothing in this law shall be construed to grant any employer or individuals in [his] the employer's service prior claims or rights to the amounts paid by [him] the employer into the fund either on [his] the employer's own behalf or on behalf of such individuals. Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, regular benefits and that portion of extended benefits not reimbursed by the federal government paid to an eligible individual shall be charged against the accounts of [his] the individual's base period employers who are paying contributions subject to the provisions of subdivision (4) of subsection 3 of section 288.090. With respect to initial claims filed after December 31, 1984, for benefits paid to an individual based on wages paid by one or more employers in the base period of the claim, the amount chargeable to each employer shall be obtained by multiplying the benefits paid by a ratio obtained by dividing the base period wages from such employer by the total wages appearing in the base period. Except as provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the maximum amount of extended benefits paid to an individual and charged against the account of any employer shall not exceed one-half of the product obtained by multiplying the benefits paid by a ratio obtained by dividing the base period wages from such employer by the total wages appearing in the base period.

(a) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection notwithstanding, with respect to weeks of unemployment beginning after December 31, 1978, the maximum amount of extended benefits paid to an individual and charged against the account of an employer which is an employer pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of section 288.032 and which is paying contributions pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 of section 288.090 shall not exceed the calculated entitlement for the extended benefit claim based upon the wages appearing within the base period of the extended benefit claim.

(2) Beginning as of June 30, 1951, and as of June thirtieth of each year thereafter, any unassigned surplus in the unemployment compensation fund which is five hundred thousand dollars or more in excess of five-tenths of one percent of the total taxable wages paid by all employers for the preceding calendar year as shown on the division's records on such June thirtieth shall be credited on a pro rata basis to all employer accounts having a credit balance in the same ratio that the balance in each such account bears to the total of the credit balances subject to use for rate calculation purposes for the following year in all such accounts on the same date. As used in this subdivision, the term "unassigned surplus" means the amount by which the total cash balance in the unemployment compensation fund exceeds a sum equal to the total of all employer credit account balances. The amount thus prorated to each separate employer's account shall for tax rating purposes be considered the same as contributions paid by the employer and credited to [his] the employer's account for the period preceding the calculation date except that no such amount can be credited against any contributions due or that may thereafter become due from such employer.

(3) At the conclusion of each calendar quarter the division shall, within thirty days, notify each employer by mail of the benefits paid to each claimant by week as determined by the division which have been charged to [his] the employer's account subsequent to the last notice.

(4) (a) No benefits based on wages paid for services performed prior to the date of any act for which a claimant is disqualified under section 288.050 shall be chargeable to any employer directly involved in such disqualifying act.

(b) In the event the deputy has in due course determined under paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 288.050 that a claimant quit [his] work with an employer for the purpose of accepting a more remunerative job with another employer which [he] the claimant did accept and earn some wages therein, no benefits based on wages paid prior to the date of the quit shall be chargeable to the employer the claimant quit.

(c) In the event the deputy has in due course determined under paragraph (b) of subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 288.050 that a claimant quit temporary work in employment with an employer to return to [his] the claimant's regular employer, then, only for the purpose of charging base period employers, all of the wages paid by the employer who furnished the temporary employment shall be combined with the wages actually paid by the regular employer as if all such wages had been actually paid by the regular employer. Further, charges for benefits based on wages paid for part-time work shall be removed from the account of the employer furnishing such part-time work if that employer continued to employ the individual claiming such benefits on a regular recurring basis each week of [his] the claimant's claim to at least the same extent that [he] the employer had previously employed [him] the claimant and so informs the division within [fifteen] thirty days from the date of notice of benefit charges.

(d) No charge shall be made against an employer's account in respect to benefits paid an individual if the gross amount of wages paid by such employer to such individual is four hundred dollars or less during the individual's base period on which [his] the claimant's benefit payments are based. Further, no charge shall be made against any employer's account in respect to benefits paid any individual unless such individual was in employment with respect to such employer longer than a probationary period of twenty-eight days, if such probationary period of employment has been reported to the division as required by regulation.

(e) In the event the deputy has in due course determined under paragraph (c) of subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 288.050 that a claimant is not disqualified, no benefits based on wages paid for work prior to the date of the quit shall be chargeable to the employer the claimant quit.

(f) Nothing in paragraphs (b), (c), [and] (d) and (e) of this subdivision shall in any way affect the benefit amount, duration of benefits or the wage credits of the claimant.

2. The division may prescribe regulations for the establishment, maintenance, and dissolution of joint accounts by two or more employers, and shall, in accordance with such regulations and upon application by two or more employers to establish such an account, or to merge their several individual accounts in a joint account, maintain such joint account as if it constituted a single employer's account.

3. The division may by regulation provide for the compilation and publication of such data as may be necessary to show the amounts of benefits not charged to any individual employer's account classified by reason no such charge was made and to show the types and amounts of transactions affecting the unemployment compensation fund.

288.110. [Any individual, type of organization or employing unit which has acquired substantially all of the business of an employer, excepting in any such case any assets retained by such employer incident to the liquidation of his obligations, and in respect to which the division finds that immediately after such change such business of the predecessor employer is continued without interruption solely by the successor, shall stand in the position of such predecessor employer in all respects, including the predecessor's separate account, actual contribution and benefit experience, annual payrolls, and liability for current or delinquent contributions, interest and penalties. If two or more individuals, organizations, or employing units acquired at approximately the same time substantially all of the business of an employer (excepting in any such case any assets retained by such employer incident to the liquidation of his obligations) and in respect to which the division finds that immediately after such change all portions of such business of the predecessor are continued without interruption solely by such successors, each such individual, organization, or employing unit shall stand in the position of such predecessor with respect to the proportionate share of the predecessor's separate account, actual contribution and benefit experience and annual payroll as determined by the portion of the predecessor's taxable payroll applicable to the portion of the business acquired, and each such individual, organization or employing unit shall be liable for current or delinquent contributions, interest and penalties of the predecessor in the same relative proportion. Further, any successor under this section which was not an employer at the time the acquisition occurred, shall pay contributions for the balance of the current rate year at the same contribution rate as the contribution rate of the predecessor whether such rate is more or less than two and seven-tenths percent, provided there was only one predecessor or there were only predecessors with identical rates. If the predecessors' rates were not identical, the division shall calculate a rate as of the date of acquisition applicable to the successor for the remainder of the rate year, which rate shall be based on the combined experience of all predecessor employers. In the event that any successor was, prior to an acquisition, an employer, and there is a difference in the contribution rate established for such calendar year applicable to any acquired or acquiring employer, the division shall make a recalculation as of the date of acquisition of the contribution rate applicable to any successor employer based upon the combined experience of all predecessor and successor employers, which revised contribution rate shall apply to employment after the date of any such acquisition. For this purpose a calculation date different from July first may be established. When the division has determined that a successor or successors stand in the position of a predecessor employer, the predecessor's liability shall be terminated as of the date of the acquisition.] 1. For purposes of this chapter, a business is deemed as transferred if any asset or liability activity of an employer is transferred in whole or in part by any means to another employer or employing unit. The transfer provision is applicable to all employers or employing units and shall include for profit, not for profit or governmental entities.

2. For the purposes of this chapter, if the business of any employer is transferred, the transferee is deemed a successor if the division determines that at the time of the business transfer the predecessor and the successor businesses are owned or controlled, either directly or indirectly, by substantially the same interest or interests by legally enforceable means. Ownership of the business entity by the same interest or interests shall be considered substantially the same if at least fifty percent or more of the business entity of the successor is owned or controlled by individuals or entities who, immediately preceding the change of ownership, owned or controlled at least fifty percent or more of the business entity, and the successor has continued or resumes the business of the predecessor in the same establishment which may or may not be at the same location. Ownership of the business entity is by an individual or individuals with the same interest or interests. Without limitation by reason of enumeration, it is presumed by the division, unless shown to the contrary, that the meaning of "same interest or interests" includes a spouse (regardless of marital status), child, parent or parents of the individual or individuals who owned or controlled the business. The meaning of "same interest or interests" shall include any combination of the relationships as previously outlined in this subsection.

3. Any successor under this section which was not an employer at the time the transfer occurred, shall pay contributions for the balance of the calendar year at the same contribution rate as the predecessor provided there is only one predecessor or multiple predecessors with identical rates. If there is more than one predecessor and the predecessors' rates are not identical, the division shall calculate a contribution rate which shall be applicable to the successor for the remainder of the contribution rate year. The calculated contribution rate shall be based on the combined experience of all predecessor employers and shall be applicable to the next calendar quarter within the same calendar year following the date of the transfer. In the even that the successor is an employer prior to a transfer and there is a difference in the contribution rate established for such calendar year applicable to any predecessor employer, the division shall make a recalculation of the contribution rate applicable to the successor employer based upon the combined experience of all predecessor and successor employers, as of the beginning of the next calendar quarter within the same calendar year following the date of transfer.

4. When the division determines that a successor or successors stand in the position of a predecessor employer, the successor shall take over and continue the predecessor's account, including positive and negative balances and all other aspects of the account under this chapter. The predecessor and the successor shall be jointly and severally liable for any amounts owed by the predecessor to the division.

5. If only a portion of the business asset and liability activity or assets of the predecessor are transferred, the successor shall stand in the position of the predecessor. The successor shall receive a proportionate share of the predecessor's separate account, actual contribution and benefit experience and annual payroll as determined by the portion of the predecessor's taxable payroll applicable to the portion of the business activity or assets acquired. The predecessor shall remain fully liable for its current and/or delinquent contributions, payments in lieu of contributions, interest and penalties. The successor shall also be jointly and severally liable with the predecessor for a proportionate share of the predecessor's current and/or delinquent contributions, payments in lieu of contributions, interest and penalties of the predecessor in the same proportionate share if the proportionate share is related to the business activity that is included in the transfer. No business entity shall be liable for liabilities owed the division which are not determined to be a part of the business or entity transfer.

288.113. Each employer's rate for the twelve months commencing January first of any calendar year shall be determined on the basis of [his] the employer's record through the preceding June thirtieth. In the event the division has been unable to calculate the rate, or the calculation of such rate by the division has not yet become final, in time to advise such employer of such rate a reasonable time before the date any contribution payment may be due, the rate in effect for the preceding calendar year shall be paid by each employer and an adjustment of any overpayment shall be permitted or additional payment demanded in the event of an underpayment, in connection with any different rate established for such calendar year, but no interest shall accrue on any such underpayment until the expiration of [fifteen] thirty days from the mailing of such demand.

288.130. 1. Each employing unit shall keep true and accurate payroll and other related records, containing such information as the division may by regulation prescribe for a period of at least [five] three calendar years after the record was made. Such records shall be open to inspection and be subject to being copied by authorized representatives of the division at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary. Any authorized person engaged in administering this law may require from any employing unit any sworn or unsworn reports, with respect to individuals performing services for it, which are deemed necessary for the effective administration of this law.

2. Each employer shall post and maintain in places readily accessible to [his] the employer's workers printed statements concerning benefit rights, claims for benefits and such other matters related to the administration of this law as the division may by regulation prescribe. Each employer shall supply to workers copies of any printed statements relating to claims for benefits when and as the division may by regulation prescribe. Such printed statements and other materials shall be supplied by the division without cost.

3. A deputy shall make an ex parte determination after investigation but without hearing with respect to any matter pertaining to the liability of an employing unit which does not involve a claimant. The deputy shall promptly notify any interested employing units of each such determination and the reason for it. The division shall grant a hearing before an appeals tribunal to any employing unit appealing from any such ex parte determination provided an appeal is filed in writing within [fifteen] thirty days following the date of notification or the mailing of such determination to the party's last known address. In the absence of an appeal any such determination shall become final at the expiration of a [fifteen-day] thirty-day period. The deputy may, however, at any time within a year from the date of [his] the deputy's determination, for good cause, reconsider the determination and shall promptly notify all interested employing units of [his] the amended determination and the reason for it.

4. The [fifteen-day] thirty-day period provided in subsection 3 of this section may, for good cause, be extended.

288.140. If not later than [four] three years after the date on which any contributions would have been required to be paid if due, an employing unit who has paid such contributions or interest thereon shall make application for an adjustment thereof in connection with subsequent contribution payments, or for a refund thereof because such adjustment is not practicable, and if the division shall determine that such contributions or interest or any portion thereof was erroneously collected, the division shall make an adjustment thereof, without interest, in connection with subsequent contribution payments, or if such adjustment is not practicable, the division shall refund such payment, without interest, from the fund. The division may, in its discretion, at any time and under such conditions and limitations as it may deem proper, make an adjustment or refund of contributions or interest paid thereon which the division finds has been erroneously collected, or any part thereof, if it finds there is good cause why such adjustment or refund should be made. The division shall not be required to refund any contributions based upon wages payable or paid which have been included in a determination of a claimant's benefit rights and which determination has become final.

288.160. 1. If any employer neglects or refuses to make a report and payment of contributions as required by this law the division shall make an estimate based on any information in its possession or that may come into its possession of the amount of wages paid by such employer for the period in respect to which he failed to make report and payment, and upon the basis of said estimated amount compute and assess the contributions and interest payable by such employer, adding to such sum a penalty equal to ten percent thereof. Promptly thereafter, the division shall give to such employer written notice of such estimated contributions, interest and penalties as so assessed, the notice to be served personally or by registered mail, directed to the last known principal place of business of such employer in this state or in any state in the event he has none in this state.

2. In any case in which any contributions, interest or penalties imposed by this law are not paid when due, it shall be the duty of the division, when the amount of contributions, interest or penalties is determined, either by the report of the employer or by such investigation as the division may make, to assess the contributions, interest and penalties so determined against such employer and to certify the amount of said contributions, interest and penalties and give such employer written notice, served personally or by registered mail, directed to the last known address of such employer in this state or in any state, in the event he has none in this state.

3. If fraud or evasion on the part of any employer is discovered by the division, the division shall determine the amount by which the state has been defrauded, shall add to the amount so determined a penalty equal to twenty-five percent thereof, and shall assess the same against the employer. The amount so assessed shall be immediately due and payable; provided, however, that the division shall promptly thereafter give to said employer written notice of such assessment.

4. Any employer against whom an assessment is made under the provisions of subsections 1, 2 and 3 above may petition for reassessment. The petition for such reassessment shall be filed with the division during the thirty-day period following the day of service or mailing of the notice of such assessment. In the absence of the filing of such a petition for reassessment the assessment shall become final upon the expiration of such a thirty-day period. Each such petition for reassessment shall set forth specifically and in detail the grounds upon which it is claimed the assessment is erroneous.

5. (1) In any case in which any contributions, interest or penalties imposed by law are not paid when due, the notice of the assessment of such contributions, interest and penalties shall be served upon or mailed to the employer within [five] three years of the date upon which the payment of the contributions was due except that in any case of fraud or misrepresentation on the part of the employer, the notice of the assessment of the contributions, interest and penalties may be served upon or mailed to the employer at any time.

(2) The giving of the notice of the making of the assessment shall toll any statute of limitations on the collection of any contributions, interest and penalties assessed.

(3) In the event any employer is entitled to the advantage of the soldiers' and sailors' civil relief act of 1940, or any amendment thereto, prior to the date any assessment becomes final, such employer shall be permitted to file a petition for reassessment at any time within ninety days following such employer's discharge from the armed services.

(4) The certificate of assessment which, under the provisions of section 288.170, may be filed with the clerk of the circuit court shall, upon such filing, thereafter be treated in all respects as a final judgment of the circuit court against the employer and the general statute of limitations applying to other judgments of courts of record shall apply.

288.190. 1. The director shall designate an impartial referee or referees to hear and decide disputed determinations, claims referred pursuant to subsection 2 of section 288.070, and petitions for reassessment. No employee of the division shall participate on behalf of the division in any case in which [he] the division employee is an interested party.

2. The manner in which disputed determinations, referred claims, and petitions for reassessment shall be presented and the conduct of hearings shall be in accordance with regulations prescribed by the division for determining the rights of the parties, whether or not such regulations conform to common law or statutory rules of evidence and other technical rules of procedure. When the same or substantially similar evidence is relevant and material to the matters in issue in claims by more than one individual or in claims by a single individual in respect to two or more weeks of unemployment, the same time and place for considering each such claim or claims may be fixed, hearings thereon jointly conducted, a single record of the proceedings made, and evidence introduced with respect to one proceeding considered as introduced in the others, if in the judgment of the appeals tribunal or the commission having jurisdiction of the proceeding such consolidation would not be prejudicial to any party. A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings in connection with a disputed determination, referred claim, or petition for reassessment. The appeals tribunal shall include in the record and consider as evidence all records of the division that are material to the issues. All testimony at any hearing shall be recorded but need not be transcribed unless the matter is further appealed.

3. Unless an appeal on a disputed determination or referred claim is withdrawn, an appeals tribunal, after affording the parties reasonable opportunity for fair hearing, shall affirm, modify, or reverse the determination of the deputy, or shall remand the matter to the deputy with directions. In addition, in any case wherein the appellant, after having been duly notified of the date, time, and place of the hearing, shall fail to appear at such hearing, the appeals tribunal may enter an order dismissing the appeal. The director may transfer to another appeals tribunal the proceedings on an appeal determination before an appeals tribunal. The parties shall be duly notified of an appeals tribunal's decision or order, together with its reason therefor, which shall be deemed to be the final decision or order of the division unless, within [fifteen] thirty days after the date of notification or mailing of such decision, further appeal is initiated pursuant to section 288.200; except that, within [fifteen] thirty days of either notification or mailing of the appeals tribunal's decision or order, the appeals tribunal, on its own motion, may reconsider any decision or order when it appears that such reconsideration is essential to the accomplishment of the object and purpose of this law.

4. Unless a petition for reassessment is withdrawn or is allowed without a hearing, the petitioners shall be given a reasonable opportunity for a fair hearing before an appeals tribunal upon each such petition. The appeals tribunal shall promptly notify the interested parties of its decision upon such petition together with its reason therefor. In addition, in any case wherein the appellant, after having been duly notified of the date, time, and place of the hearing, shall fail to appear at such hearing, the appeals tribunal may enter an order dismissing the appeal. In the absence of the filing of an application for review of such decision, the decision, whether it results in a reassessment or otherwise, shall become final [fifteen] thirty days after the date of notification or mailing thereof; except that, within [fifteen] thirty days of either notification or mailing of the appeals tribunal's decision or order, the appeals tribunal, on its own motion, may reconsider any decision or order when it appears that such reconsideration is essential to the accomplishment of the object and purposes of this law.

288.200. 1. Any of the parties (including the division) to any decision of an appeals tribunal, may file with the commission within [fifteen] thirty days following the date of notification or mailing of such decision, an application to have such decision reviewed by the commission. The commission may allow or deny an application for review. If an application is allowed, the commission may affirm, modify, reverse, or set aside the decision of the appeals tribunal on the basis of the evidence previously submitted in such case or may take additional evidence or may remand the matter to the appeals tribunal with directions. Any additional hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of subsection 2 of section 288.190. The commission shall promptly notify the parties of its decision and its reasons therefor. If an application for review is denied, the decision of the appeals tribunal shall be deemed to be the decision of the commission for the purpose of judicial review and shall be subject to judicial review within the time and in the manner provided for with respect to decisions of the commission except that the time limitations shall run from the date of notice of the order of the commission denying the application for review.

2. Any decision of the commission shall become final ten days after the date of notification or mailing thereof to the parties. Any right, fact or matter in issue, directly based upon or necessarily involved in a determination or redetermination which has become final or in a decision on appeal which has become final, shall be conclusive with respect to the parties who had notice of such determination, redetermination, or decision for all the purposes of the employment security law in any other proceeding; except that, the commission may on its own motion and by a written decision reconsider any determination or redetermination or decision wherein any such right, fact or matter at issue was determined or necessarily involved when it appears that such reconsideration is essential to accomplish the object and purposes of the law. Judicial review of any decision of the commission shall be permitted only after the party claiming to be aggrieved thereby has exhausted the administrative remedies as provided by this law and the rules and regulations of the division.

Section B. The provisions of section 288.110, shall become effective on January 1, 1997.