SSB 1194 (LSB 2358XC (1) 89)

SENATE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND BUSINESS RELATIONS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHITING)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for procedures to verify eligibility for unemployment benefits and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 96.1A, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new subsections:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  26A.  “Integrity data hub” means a centralized, electronic platform, including a successor platform, maintained by the national association of state workforce agencies, or a successor organization, to compare and analyze benefit claims data across states for enhanced detection and prevention of fraud and improper payments.
   NEW SUBSECTION.  26B.  “National directory of new hires” means a database, including a successor database, established by the federal office of child support enforcement pursuant to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-193, for the purposes of assisting state child support agencies in locating parents and enforcing child support orders.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  96.33  Verification of benefit eligibility.
   1.  The department shall participate in and utilize the integrity data hub to verify the integrity of all claims for benefits in this state.
   2.  On a weekly basis, the department shall check all claims for benefits submitted in the previous week against the most recent list of inmates provided by the department of corrections pursuant to section 904.108 to verify the eligibility for benefits of each claimant.
   3.  On a weekly basis, the department shall check all claims for benefits against the national directory of new hires, as well as any other source of information on newly hired or rehired employees available to the department under state or federal law, to verify the eligibility for benefits of each claimant.
   4.  The department may enter into an agreement pursuant to chapter 28E or execute a memorandum of understanding with other state and federal agencies in order to acquire or gain access to information required to be shared between agencies pursuant to this section.
   5.  If the department receives information concerning a claimant that indicates a change in the claimant’s circumstances that may affect the claimant’s eligibility for benefits, the department shall review the claimant’s eligibility.
    Sec. 3.  Section 904.108, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  7.  The director shall provide the department of workforce development access to a list of inmates confined in institutions under the department’s jurisdiction on a weekly basis for purposes of compliance with section 96.33.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2022.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides for procedures for the department of workforce development to verify eligibility for unemployment benefits.
   The bill requires the department to participate in and utilize the integrity data hub, as defined in the bill, to verify the integrity of all claims for benefits in Iowa.
   The bill requires the department to check, on a weekly basis, all claims for benefits submitted in the previous week against the most recent list of inmates provided by the department of corrections pursuant to the bill to verify the eligibility for benefits of each claimant.
   The bill requires the department to check, on a weekly basis, all claims for benefits against the national directory of new hires, as defined in the bill, as well as any other source of information on newly hired or rehired employees available to the department under state or federal law, to verify the eligibility for benefits of each claimant.
   The bill authorizes the department to enter into an agreement pursuant to Code chapter 28E or execute a memorandum of understanding with other state and federal agencies in order to acquire or gain access to information required to be shared between agencies pursuant to the bill.
   If the department receives information concerning a claimant that indicates a change in the claimant’s circumstances that may affect the claimant’s eligibility for benefits, the bill requires the department to review the claimant’s eligibility.
   The bill takes effect January 1, 2022.