2003 Montana Legislature

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HOUSE BILL NO. 338

INTRODUCED BY KEANE, COHENOUR, CYR, LASLOVICH, MUSGROVE, NEWMAN, WANZENRIED, WILSON


AN ACT INCREASING THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL IS ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS TO 28 WEEKS; REVISING THE RATIOS USED TO CALCULATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION RATES; INCREASING THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT TO 66.5 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; AMENDING SECTIONS 39-51-1218, 39-51-2201, AND 39-51-2204, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.

 

AN ACT INCREASING THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL IS ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS TO 28 WEEKS; REVISING THE RATIOS USED TO CALCULATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION RATES; INCREASING THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT TO 66.5 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; AMENDING SECTIONS 39-51-1218, 39-51-2201, AND 39-51-2204, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

 

     Section 1.  Section 39-51-1218, MCA, is amended to read:

     "39-51-1218.  Rate schedules.

SCHEDULES OF CONTRIBUTION RATES - Part I

     Sched.     Sc hed.     Sched.     & #160;                        Sche d.

     I     II      III       &# 160;                          0;            &# 160;          IV

Minimum Ratio of Fund to Total Wages     (.0260)     (.0245)     ; (.0225)          0;        (.0200)

     (.0245)     (.0225)    & #160;(.0200)     (.0170)

Average Tax Rate     1.37     1.57      1.77     1.97

Rate Class     Contribution Rates for Eligible Employers

1     0.00%     0. 07%     0.27%     & #160;                         0.47%

2     0.07     0.27      0.47     0.67

3     0.27     0.47      0.67     0.87

4     0.47     0.67      0.87     1.07

5     0.67     0.87      1.07     1.27

6     0.87     1.07      1.27     1.47

7     1.07     1.27      1.47     1.67

8     1.27     1.47      1.67     1.87

9     1.47     1.67      1.87     2.07

10     1.67     1.8 7     2.07     2.27

Rate Class     Contribution Rates for Deficit Employers

1     3.17%     3. 37%     3.57%     3.77%

2     3.37     3.57      3.77     3.97

3     3.57     3.77      3.97     4.17

4     3.77     3.97      4.17     4.37

5     3.97     4.17      4.37     4.57

6     4.17     4.37      4.57     4.77

7     4.37     4.57      4.77     4.97

8     4.57     4.77      4.97     5.17

9     4.77     4.97      5.17     5.37

10     6.37     6.3 7     6.37     6.37

SCHEDULES OF CONTRIBUTION RATES - Part II

     Sched.     Sc hed.     Sched.     Sched.&# 160;    Sched.      Sched.

     V     VI 0;    VII     VIII  &# 160;  IX     X

     (.0170)     0;(.0135)     (.0095)     60;       (.0075)   & #160; (.0050)                       0;  (....)     

     (.0135)     (.0095)    & #160;(.00575)     (.0050)      ;(....)     (....)

     2.17     2.37      2.57     2.77  60;   2.97     3.17

Contribution Rates for Eligible Employers

     0.67%     0.8 7%     1.07%     1.27% 60;    1.47%     1.67%

     0.87     1.07      1.27     1.47  60;   1.67     1.87

     1.07     1.27      1.47     1.67  60;   1.87     2.07

     1.27     1.47      1.67     1.87  60;   2.07     2.27

     1.47     1.67      1.87     2.07  60;   2.27     2.47

     1.67     1.87      2.07     2.27  60;   2.47     2.67

     1.87     2.07      2.27     2.47  60;   2.67     2.87

     2.07     2.27      2.47     2.67  60;   2.87     3.07

     2.27     2.47      2.67     2.87  60;   3.07     3.27

     2.47     2.67      2.87     3.07  60;   3.27     3.47

Contribution Rates for Deficit Employers

     3.97%     4.1 7%     4.37%     4.57% 60;    4.77%     4.97%

     4.17     4.37      4.57     4.77  60;   4.97     5.17

     4.37     4.57      4.77     4.97  60;   5.17     5.37

     4.57     4.77      4.97     5.17  60;   5.37     5.57

     4.77     4.97      5.17     5.37  60;   5.57     5.77

     4.97     5.17      5.37     5.57  60;   5.77     5.97

     5.17     5.37      5.57     5.77  60;   5.97     6.17

     5.37     5.57      5.77     5.97  60;   6.17     6.37

     5.57     5.77      5.97     6.17  60;   6.37     6.37

     6.37     6.37      6.37     6.37  60;   6.37     6.37"

 

     Section 2.  Section 39-51-2201, MCA, is amended to read:

     "39-51-2201.  Weekly benefit amount -- determination of average weekly wage. (1) An individual's weekly benefit amount must be an amount equal to 1% of the total base period wages or equal to 1.9% of the total wages paid in the 2 calendar quarters in which wages were the highest during the base period. The weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, must be rounded to the nearest lower full dollar amount. However, the amount may not be less than the minimum or more than the maximum weekly benefit amount.

     (2)  On or before May 31 of each year, the total wages paid by all employers as reported on contribution reports submitted on or before that date for the preceding calendar year must be divided by the average monthly number of individuals employed during the same preceding calendar year as reported on the contribution reports. The amount obtained is the average annual wage. The average annual wage divided by 52, rounded to the nearest cent, is the average weekly wage. The maximum weekly benefit amount is 63% 66.5% of the average weekly wage and must be applied to all maximum weekly benefit amount claims for benefits filed to establish a benefit year commencing on or after July 1 of the same year. The maximum weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, must be computed to the nearest lower full dollar amount.

     (3)  The minimum weekly benefit amount must be 15% of the average weekly wage. The minimum weekly benefit amount, if not a multiple of $1, must be computed to the nearest lower full dollar amount."

 

     Section 3.  Section 39-51-2204, MCA, is amended to read:

     "39-51-2204.  Maximum benefit amount. Any otherwise eligible individual is entitled during the individual's benefit year to a total amount of benefits equal to the individual's weekly benefit amount, as calculated according to 39-51-2201, times the number of full weeks of benefit entitlement appearing in the following table in the line which includes the individual's ratio of total base period earnings to the highest quarter of earnings in the base period:

          Ratio of Total Base Period

     Earnings to High Quarter     Full Weeks

     At Least     But Less Than     of Benefits

     1.00     1.25       8

     1.25     1.50      10

     1.50     1.75      12

     1.75     2.00      14

     2.00     2.25      16

     2.25     2.50      18

     2.50     2.75      20

     2.75     3.00      22

     3.00     3.25      24

     3.25     ---- 3.50     26

     3.50      .......     28"

 

     Section 4.  Effective date -- applicability. [This act] is effective on passage and approval and applies to claims for benefits filed on or after October 1, 2003.

- END -

 


Latest Version of HB 338 (HB0338.ENR)
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