S15 - Unemployment Insurance Law Changes (SL 2015-238)

Overview: S.L. 2015-238 makes numerous changes to the unemployment insurance laws as requested by the Division of Employment Security (DES) and recommended by the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Unemployment Insurance. The legislation combines three bills recommended by the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Unemployment Insurance into one bill.

• Part I of the act enhances the ability of DES to promote program integrity through the use of business intelligence and data analytics within the State's Government Data Analytics Center. The changes made by this Part became effective September 10, 2015. This Part also requires DES to make periodic reports on its program integrity efforts.
• Part II of the act makes several administrative and programmatic changes requested by DES. Those changes include the use of photo identification to receive unemployment insurance benefits, the ability of DES to use attachment and garnishment of a delinquent employer's credit card receipts to satisfy a judgment for unpaid employment taxes, and the modification of work search requirements. The changes made in this Part have various effective dates. Please see the complete summary for a more comprehensive explanation of the changes and their effective dates.
• Part III of the act confirms the Governor's appointments to the Board of Review, ratifies past unemployment appeal decisions, creates staggered terms for the members of the Board, and provides more clarity to the Board appointment process. This Part also directs the Program Evaluation Division to study the value provided to the State by the Board of Review. The changes made by this Part became effective September 10, 2015.
• Part IV of the act makes changes related to the unemployment insurance tax rate schedules. One of the most notable tax changes is a suspension of the 20% surcharge for the tax year 2016 if the amount in the State's account in the Unemployment Trust Fund equals or exceeds $1 billion by March 1, 2016. The trigger is projected to be met by March 1st. The 20% surcharge generates approximately $240 million. It also will begin charging benefits to an employer's account on a quarterly basis. The changes made in this Part have various effective dates. Please see the full summary for a more comprehensive explanation of the changes and their effective dates.