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Charter for the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee

Unemployment Insurance Program Mission

The mission of the unemployment-insurance program is to enhance the well-being of the state workforce and business community through the timely and equitable payment of benefits and the collection of taxes and overpayments.  The program promotes economic security for individuals, their families and their communities, and helps employers maintain a stable workforce.

The Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council (UIAC) was formed using the following law as the basis for its creation

RCW 50.12.200 State advisory council -- Committees and councils
... The commissioner may also appoint committees, and industrial or other special councils, to perform appropriate services. Advisory council members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 (mileage allowance) and 43.03.060 (subsistence, lodging/refreshments and per diem allowance) as now existing or hereafter amended.

Unemployment Insurance Advisory Committee Mission

Advise Employment Security Department on unemployment-insurance issues; and provide an ongoing forum to ensure that the department's unemployment-insurance program is responsive to employers, workers, claimants, and other constituents.

Unemployment Inurance Advisory Committee Goals

  • Ensure that the division has solicited internal and external advice and counsel before taking a position on proposed unemployment-insurance actions, policies, rules, legislation, or organizational matters.
  • Serve as a resource in local communities and for employer, worker and related organizations.
  • Communicate the unemployment division's challenges and accomplishments to workers, employers and related community organizations.
  • Provide the division with timely advice about its operational plan and customer-communication strategies.

Membership and Committee Meetings

  1. Members work for the greater good of Washington state and its citizens, in addition to representing the views of their constituents and affiliations.
  2. Each member must have a designated alternate. Alternates will be briefed on UIAC actions by their member, and will represent the member at meetings when he or she cannot attend.
  3. Alternates can be selected by members for approval by the commissioner.
  4. Members who miss two or more meetings within their term, without their alternate attending, may be replaced. 
  5. Members can be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses at the prevailing state rate.
  6. Meetings will be quarterly.
  7. Special meetings will be called if the division must address critical issues in a timely manner, particularly during the legislative session.
  8. New appointments serve three-year terms; terms begin in January. 

Meeting Ground Rules

  1. Members will make every effort to attend meetings.
  2. Members will have alternates to represent them should they be unable to attend a meeting.  Alternates will brief members on meeting content and issues.
  3. Members and their alternates will sit at the table with place cards (name, member or alternate designation and affiliation).
  4. Members are expected to speak for the groups they represent.
  5. The chairperson will solicit comments from non-members after members have spoken.

UI Division Support to the Committee

  1. The division will provide staff to support the work of the committee.
  2. The division and advisory committee members will bring all unemployment-insurance legislative initiatives before the committee for consultation and advice before moving legislation forward.
  3. The division may act based on input of the members attending.
  4. The division will carry concerns of the committee forward to the appropriate committees and staff of the legislature. Projected impacts voiced by the committee will be included in fiscal notes and other written papers to the legislature, as appropriate.  While the division may not always act on the advice of the committee, it is committed to keeping the committee informed and aware of the reasoning behind the position of the department on proposed actions, policy, rules or legislation.