BILL NUMBER: SB 917INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Gaines JANUARY 27, 2014 An act to amend Section 2122 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to fraud. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 917, as introduced, Gaines. Unemployment insurance: fraud: penalties. Existing law provides that, among other things, it is unlawful to commit fraud to obtain unemployment compensation or disability benefits, including, but not limited to, falsely certifying the medical condition of any person in order to obtain disability benefits, knowingly presenting a false statement in support of a claim for benefits, knowingly soliciting, receiving, offering, paying, or accepting any payment for soliciting a claimant to apply for disability insurance benefits, or knowingly assisting any person who engages in fraudulent or prohibited actions, as specified. The violation of these provisions, except as provided, is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or in the state prison, or by a fine of not more than $20,000, or by both the fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. This bill would raise the limit of the fine to not more than $50,000. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2122 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read: 2122. Except as provided in Sections 2117, 2117.5, 2118, and 2118.5, a violation of this chapter is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or in the state prison, or by a fine of not more thantwenty thousand dollars ($20,000)fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) , or by both the fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.