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Labor committee advances three bills: penalties for returned UI payments, service‑retirement title fix, and sponsor withdraws LD 20 49
Summary
The committee recommended passage of LD 21 01 (penalty for returned unemployment payments) and LD 20 85 (service retirement plan position addition as amended), and recorded an 'ought not to pass' for LD 20 49 at the sponsor's request so the sponsor can refine the bill.
The Joint Standing Committee on Labor took votes on multiple bills during its Feb. 10 work session, advancing two bills and recording the sponsor’s request to withdraw and resubmit a third.
LD 21 01: A departmental bill to establish a monetary penalty for employers whose unemployment insurance payments are returned unpaid was recommended 'ought to pass' by the committee. Analyst Steve Langland noted the proposal would require the Department of Labor to assess a penalty equal to $25 or 1% of the payment (whichever is greater) and cited about 350 rejected payments totaling roughly $125,000 since UI contributions became payable directly to the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation. Representative Matthew Beck moved the motion to recommend passage and Representative Gary Drinkwater seconded; the roll call was unanimous.
LD 20 85: The committee recommended passage as amended of LD 20 85, which inserts a particular emergency communications position into the 1998 special plan to preserve retirement continuity for a promoted employee. Analysts said the change would take effect Aug. 1 and would not create an unfunded actuarial liability. Representative Amy Raider moved the motion and Representative Beck seconded; the committee recorded a unanimous 'ought to pass as amended.'
LD 20 49: Representative Matthew Beck, the sponsor of LD 20 49 (an amendment concerning indemnification when seeking remedies for labor law violations), asked the committee to record an 'ought not to pass' recommendation so he could take additional time to work with stakeholders and resubmit a stronger bill next session. The committee voted unanimously to recommend 'ought not to pass' and accepted written testimony for the record.
All three recommendations were approved by unanimous votes of members present during the work session. The committee will transmit its recommendations and the amended language or redrafted bills will proceed through the legislature’s next steps.
