OLYMPIA - The Washington State Senate passed a pro-jobs bill on April 11, and it happened to be 13th District Rep. Matt Manweller's first bill to make it through the legislative process.

House Bill 1396 changes the unemployment insurance shared work program by adopting compensation provisions that are consistent with 2012 federal legislation.

According to Manweller, the bill is good for both claimants and employers because it provides shared work benefits for employees, but they are not charged to employers for a three-year period.

"I am glad that my first bill to pass the Legislature is a bill that will make it easier for small businesses to keep people on the job and protect current employees from being laid off during these difficult economic times," said Manweller, R-Ellensburg. "I sincerely hope the governor signs my bill into law and makes Washington a better place to work and live."

Shared-work is a popular and agreed-upon program and is tied to the federal Middle Class Tax Relief and Creation Act of 2012. For the first time, reimbursable employers can participate because of the federal funding.

Under current law, it does not make economic sense for reimbursable employers to participate because they pay wages and have to reimburse the Employment Security Department for every dollar of benefits.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously and was headed to the governor's desk for signature.