Unemployment bill proposed identity checks and longer phone support

The department would require claimants to prove their identity before filing an initial benefit claim and during other benefit-related transactions. The checks cover claimants using the department’s unemployment benefit services. The identity checks must meet level 2 standards for proving identity and securing access in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s digital identity guidelines.

The department would provide unemployment system training videos and free live seminars for employers. The videos would be for claimants and employers. The seminars would be for employers. Seminars may be in person, online, or both. The employer seminars would be provided quarterly.

The department would keep a phone help center and extend its hours during certain emergencies and call surges. The center would assist unemployment benefit claimants and people receiving federal unemployment assistance. The state emergency must cause or relate to an increase in unemployment claims. At least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekday hours would apply during a qualifying emergency and for 90 days after a week when calls rise at least 100 percent from the same week the previous year. Evening weekday hours and at least 16 weekend hours would apply during that emergency and for 90 days after a week when calls rise at least 300 percent, including after each later week meeting that threshold.

The department would compare benefit recipients’ records with specified databases at least weekly to detect fraud or mistaken payments. The required comparisons cover people receiving unemployment benefits. The department may also compare recipient records with other public or private databases. The comparisons would take place at least once each week.

The department would notify state officials and legislative committees if it suspended or reduced a method used to detect unemployment program fraud. The bill would also set an eight-year deadline for certain benefit fraud prosecutions. The reporting duty would apply when the department reduces or suspends any method for detecting fraud against the state unemployment program. The eight-year deadline would cover felony prosecutions for fraud involving unemployment benefits, including specified federal pandemic programs. The deadline would apply only to benefits paid or payable on or before September 4, 2021, and only if the existing prosecution time limit had not expired when the provision took effect. The act would take effect on the Sunday after publication. The eight-year deadline would apply to eligible acts whose existing prosecution time limit had not expired by then.