HB 2108
Initials PRB Page 1 Vetoed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
House: COM DPA 6-3-1-0 | 3
rd
Read 31-29-0-0
Senate: COM DPA 5-2-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 16-14-0-0
Final Pass: 31-27-1-0-1
HB 2108: unemployment benefits; requirements; disqualifications
Sponsor: Representative Livingston, LD 28
Vetoed
Overview
Creates requirements and factors to determine the validity and eligibility for Unemployment
Insurance (UI) benefits.
History
The Department of Economic Security (DES) administers the unemployment insurance benefit
program, which provides temporary financial relief to eligible unemployed individuals who
separate from their previous employers at no fault of their own. In order to be eligible for UI
benefits, an individual must be able to work, available for work and actively seeking work. Further,
the individual must engage in a systematic and sustained effort to search for work on at least four
different days each week and make at least four work search contacts each week.
DES examines any claim for benefits and determines whether the claim is valid. DES must
promptly notify the claimant of the determination. The claimant has 15 days from the date the
notification was mailed to appeal the determination.
Individuals who fail to apply for available and suitable work, actively engage in seeking work,
accept suitable work when offered or return to customary self-employment as directed by DES
are disqualified from UI benefits (Title 23, Chapter 4, A.R.S.).
Provisions
1. Revises the UI eligibility requirements by:
a) reinserting that a person must be available for work;
b) removing the requirement that a person must make an effort to obtain work and search
for work on at least 4 different days of the week;
c) specifying a person must actively seek and apply for suitable work;
d) requiring a person to conduct at least five specified work search action each week; and
e) instructing the individual to provide a weekly report that details the work search actions for
every week a benefit is sought. (Sec. 4)
2. Prevents DES from paying UI benefits until an initial or ongoing claim is cross-checked for
validity against outlined data sets. (Sec. 5)
3. Stipulates a claim will not be paid and the claimant is disqualified from receiving benefits and
referred for prosecution if a cross-check indicates that the claim is ineligible or fraudulent.
(Sec. 5)
4. Directs DES, prior to paying benefits, to examine any initial claim and confirm the claim's
validity if the claim:
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☒ Fiscal Note HB 2108
Initials PRB Page 2 Vetoed
a) was submitted electronically through an internet address located outside of Arizona;
b) references an address for which another current claim was submitted; or
c) is associated with a direct deposit for a bank account already used for another current
claim. (Sec. 5)
5. Allows DES to refer the matter for prosecution if a fraudulent claim was filed. (Sec. 5)
6. Restates that the individual is disqualified for benefits for failure to actively seek and apply for
suitable work, to accept an offer of suitable work or to accept reemployment at the same
employer for suitable work, if offered. (Sec. 6)
7. Directs an employer to report to DES when an individual who was a previous employee:
a) Refuses to return to work or accept an offer of suitable work; or
b) Fails to appear for a scheduled interview or respond to an offer of employment. (Sec. 6)
8. Permits employers to submit the required report to DES either digitally or through email. (Sec.
6)
9. Requires DES to conduct an independent review of each submitted report to determine
whether an individual should be disqualified from receiving benefits. (Sec. 6)
10. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3, 5)