California 2021 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB2129 Amended / Bill

Filed 04/05/2022

                    Amended IN  Assembly  April 05, 2022 Amended IN  Assembly  March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2129Introduced by Assembly Member CarrilloFebruary 15, 2022 An act to amend Section 339 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to unemployment insurance. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2129, as amended, Carrillo. Employment Development Department: recession plan: fraud prevention and detection. plan.Existing law establishes the Employment Development Department within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and sets forth its powers and duties with respect to job creation activities. Existing law requires the department to develop and implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession, and to provide copies of the recession plan and updates to specified legislative committees and to the Department of Finance.Existing law requires the plan to detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and include, but not be limited to, identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times, and enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.This bill would require that the plan, in detailing how to respond to economic downturns, the recession plan to include enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession. a summary of the actions taken by the Employment Development Department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously provided to specified legislative committees and the Department of Finance.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: YES  Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 339 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:339. (a) The department shall develop and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession. The plan shall detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) Identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.(2) Identifying the indicators the department will be monitoring and using to project the likely upcoming workload impacts.(3) Identifying the steps the department will take to address increases in its workload, such as cross-training staff, changing its staffing levels, prioritizing specific tasks, and adjusting the way it performs certain work, including addressing all of the following factors:(A) How quickly staff can be hired.(B) Whether there is physical space for staff.(C) Whether the selected location has the technology that will be needed.(4) Analyzing current job duties or classifications and ensuring the right staff is doing the right work, including all of the following factors:(A) Whether current staff is ready to take on more complex work, increased volumes of work, or both.(B) Identification of a backup system for a sudden influx of work.(C) Assessing how existing seasonal and part-time staff is utilized, including whether the department can temporarily alter the work duties of current staff instead of hiring new staff.(D) Assessing how current staff can be cross-trained.(E) Extending hours of operation.(5) Identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times to speak to staff.(6) Assessing the current inventory of equipment, including both of the following:(A) Determining if the department should lease equipment.(B) Determining if there is enough equipment to support anticipated increased staffing levels.(7) Identifying the altered policies or procedures that the department would activate if a rise in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims became significant enough to warrant that step.(8) Analyzing communications, including determining if additional lines of communication are needed, such as additional phone lines, additional email boxes, and external communications, including, but not limited to, social media.(9) Identifying budget and funding constraints.(10)Enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession.  (11)(10) Enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.(12)(11) Assessing call center protocols by doing both of the following:(A) Establishing a process for tracking and periodically analyzing the reasons why unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants call for assistance.(B) Analyzing the data gathered to improve the departments call center by doing both of the following:(i) Identifying and resolving weaknesses or problems with the ways in which the department assists unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants through self-serve services and non-call center options.(ii) Developing specialized training modules to quickly train call center staff on the most commonly requested items with which callers want assistance.(12) Summarizing actions taken by the department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously submitted in accordance with subdivision (b).(b) (1) The department shall provide a copy of the recession plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance by March 1, 2022, and update the recession plan and provide a copy to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance every second year thereafter.(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

 Amended IN  Assembly  April 05, 2022 Amended IN  Assembly  March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2129Introduced by Assembly Member CarrilloFebruary 15, 2022 An act to amend Section 339 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to unemployment insurance. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2129, as amended, Carrillo. Employment Development Department: recession plan: fraud prevention and detection. plan.Existing law establishes the Employment Development Department within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and sets forth its powers and duties with respect to job creation activities. Existing law requires the department to develop and implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession, and to provide copies of the recession plan and updates to specified legislative committees and to the Department of Finance.Existing law requires the plan to detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and include, but not be limited to, identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times, and enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.This bill would require that the plan, in detailing how to respond to economic downturns, the recession plan to include enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession. a summary of the actions taken by the Employment Development Department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously provided to specified legislative committees and the Department of Finance.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: YES  Local Program: NO 

 Amended IN  Assembly  April 05, 2022 Amended IN  Assembly  March 24, 2022

Amended IN  Assembly  April 05, 2022
Amended IN  Assembly  March 24, 2022

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION

 Assembly Bill 

No. 2129

Introduced by Assembly Member CarrilloFebruary 15, 2022

Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo
February 15, 2022

 An act to amend Section 339 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to unemployment insurance. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2129, as amended, Carrillo. Employment Development Department: recession plan: fraud prevention and detection. plan.

Existing law establishes the Employment Development Department within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and sets forth its powers and duties with respect to job creation activities. Existing law requires the department to develop and implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession, and to provide copies of the recession plan and updates to specified legislative committees and to the Department of Finance.Existing law requires the plan to detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and include, but not be limited to, identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times, and enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.This bill would require that the plan, in detailing how to respond to economic downturns, the recession plan to include enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession. a summary of the actions taken by the Employment Development Department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously provided to specified legislative committees and the Department of Finance.

Existing law establishes the Employment Development Department within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and sets forth its powers and duties with respect to job creation activities. Existing law requires the department to develop and implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession, and to provide copies of the recession plan and updates to specified legislative committees and to the Department of Finance.

Existing law requires the plan to detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and include, but not be limited to, identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times, and enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.



This bill would require that the plan, in detailing how to respond to economic downturns, the recession plan to include enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession. a summary of the actions taken by the Employment Development Department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously provided to specified legislative committees and the Department of Finance.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 339 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:339. (a) The department shall develop and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession. The plan shall detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) Identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.(2) Identifying the indicators the department will be monitoring and using to project the likely upcoming workload impacts.(3) Identifying the steps the department will take to address increases in its workload, such as cross-training staff, changing its staffing levels, prioritizing specific tasks, and adjusting the way it performs certain work, including addressing all of the following factors:(A) How quickly staff can be hired.(B) Whether there is physical space for staff.(C) Whether the selected location has the technology that will be needed.(4) Analyzing current job duties or classifications and ensuring the right staff is doing the right work, including all of the following factors:(A) Whether current staff is ready to take on more complex work, increased volumes of work, or both.(B) Identification of a backup system for a sudden influx of work.(C) Assessing how existing seasonal and part-time staff is utilized, including whether the department can temporarily alter the work duties of current staff instead of hiring new staff.(D) Assessing how current staff can be cross-trained.(E) Extending hours of operation.(5) Identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times to speak to staff.(6) Assessing the current inventory of equipment, including both of the following:(A) Determining if the department should lease equipment.(B) Determining if there is enough equipment to support anticipated increased staffing levels.(7) Identifying the altered policies or procedures that the department would activate if a rise in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims became significant enough to warrant that step.(8) Analyzing communications, including determining if additional lines of communication are needed, such as additional phone lines, additional email boxes, and external communications, including, but not limited to, social media.(9) Identifying budget and funding constraints.(10)Enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession.  (11)(10) Enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.(12)(11) Assessing call center protocols by doing both of the following:(A) Establishing a process for tracking and periodically analyzing the reasons why unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants call for assistance.(B) Analyzing the data gathered to improve the departments call center by doing both of the following:(i) Identifying and resolving weaknesses or problems with the ways in which the department assists unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants through self-serve services and non-call center options.(ii) Developing specialized training modules to quickly train call center staff on the most commonly requested items with which callers want assistance.(12) Summarizing actions taken by the department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously submitted in accordance with subdivision (b).(b) (1) The department shall provide a copy of the recession plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance by March 1, 2022, and update the recession plan and provide a copy to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance every second year thereafter.(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 339 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:339. (a) The department shall develop and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession. The plan shall detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) Identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.(2) Identifying the indicators the department will be monitoring and using to project the likely upcoming workload impacts.(3) Identifying the steps the department will take to address increases in its workload, such as cross-training staff, changing its staffing levels, prioritizing specific tasks, and adjusting the way it performs certain work, including addressing all of the following factors:(A) How quickly staff can be hired.(B) Whether there is physical space for staff.(C) Whether the selected location has the technology that will be needed.(4) Analyzing current job duties or classifications and ensuring the right staff is doing the right work, including all of the following factors:(A) Whether current staff is ready to take on more complex work, increased volumes of work, or both.(B) Identification of a backup system for a sudden influx of work.(C) Assessing how existing seasonal and part-time staff is utilized, including whether the department can temporarily alter the work duties of current staff instead of hiring new staff.(D) Assessing how current staff can be cross-trained.(E) Extending hours of operation.(5) Identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times to speak to staff.(6) Assessing the current inventory of equipment, including both of the following:(A) Determining if the department should lease equipment.(B) Determining if there is enough equipment to support anticipated increased staffing levels.(7) Identifying the altered policies or procedures that the department would activate if a rise in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims became significant enough to warrant that step.(8) Analyzing communications, including determining if additional lines of communication are needed, such as additional phone lines, additional email boxes, and external communications, including, but not limited to, social media.(9) Identifying budget and funding constraints.(10)Enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession.  (11)(10) Enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.(12)(11) Assessing call center protocols by doing both of the following:(A) Establishing a process for tracking and periodically analyzing the reasons why unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants call for assistance.(B) Analyzing the data gathered to improve the departments call center by doing both of the following:(i) Identifying and resolving weaknesses or problems with the ways in which the department assists unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants through self-serve services and non-call center options.(ii) Developing specialized training modules to quickly train call center staff on the most commonly requested items with which callers want assistance.(12) Summarizing actions taken by the department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously submitted in accordance with subdivision (b).(b) (1) The department shall provide a copy of the recession plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance by March 1, 2022, and update the recession plan and provide a copy to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance every second year thereafter.(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

SECTION 1. Section 339 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:

### SECTION 1.

339. (a) The department shall develop and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession. The plan shall detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) Identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.(2) Identifying the indicators the department will be monitoring and using to project the likely upcoming workload impacts.(3) Identifying the steps the department will take to address increases in its workload, such as cross-training staff, changing its staffing levels, prioritizing specific tasks, and adjusting the way it performs certain work, including addressing all of the following factors:(A) How quickly staff can be hired.(B) Whether there is physical space for staff.(C) Whether the selected location has the technology that will be needed.(4) Analyzing current job duties or classifications and ensuring the right staff is doing the right work, including all of the following factors:(A) Whether current staff is ready to take on more complex work, increased volumes of work, or both.(B) Identification of a backup system for a sudden influx of work.(C) Assessing how existing seasonal and part-time staff is utilized, including whether the department can temporarily alter the work duties of current staff instead of hiring new staff.(D) Assessing how current staff can be cross-trained.(E) Extending hours of operation.(5) Identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times to speak to staff.(6) Assessing the current inventory of equipment, including both of the following:(A) Determining if the department should lease equipment.(B) Determining if there is enough equipment to support anticipated increased staffing levels.(7) Identifying the altered policies or procedures that the department would activate if a rise in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims became significant enough to warrant that step.(8) Analyzing communications, including determining if additional lines of communication are needed, such as additional phone lines, additional email boxes, and external communications, including, but not limited to, social media.(9) Identifying budget and funding constraints.(10)Enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession.  (11)(10) Enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.(12)(11) Assessing call center protocols by doing both of the following:(A) Establishing a process for tracking and periodically analyzing the reasons why unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants call for assistance.(B) Analyzing the data gathered to improve the departments call center by doing both of the following:(i) Identifying and resolving weaknesses or problems with the ways in which the department assists unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants through self-serve services and non-call center options.(ii) Developing specialized training modules to quickly train call center staff on the most commonly requested items with which callers want assistance.(12) Summarizing actions taken by the department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously submitted in accordance with subdivision (b).(b) (1) The department shall provide a copy of the recession plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance by March 1, 2022, and update the recession plan and provide a copy to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance every second year thereafter.(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

339. (a) The department shall develop and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession. The plan shall detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) Identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.(2) Identifying the indicators the department will be monitoring and using to project the likely upcoming workload impacts.(3) Identifying the steps the department will take to address increases in its workload, such as cross-training staff, changing its staffing levels, prioritizing specific tasks, and adjusting the way it performs certain work, including addressing all of the following factors:(A) How quickly staff can be hired.(B) Whether there is physical space for staff.(C) Whether the selected location has the technology that will be needed.(4) Analyzing current job duties or classifications and ensuring the right staff is doing the right work, including all of the following factors:(A) Whether current staff is ready to take on more complex work, increased volumes of work, or both.(B) Identification of a backup system for a sudden influx of work.(C) Assessing how existing seasonal and part-time staff is utilized, including whether the department can temporarily alter the work duties of current staff instead of hiring new staff.(D) Assessing how current staff can be cross-trained.(E) Extending hours of operation.(5) Identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times to speak to staff.(6) Assessing the current inventory of equipment, including both of the following:(A) Determining if the department should lease equipment.(B) Determining if there is enough equipment to support anticipated increased staffing levels.(7) Identifying the altered policies or procedures that the department would activate if a rise in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims became significant enough to warrant that step.(8) Analyzing communications, including determining if additional lines of communication are needed, such as additional phone lines, additional email boxes, and external communications, including, but not limited to, social media.(9) Identifying budget and funding constraints.(10)Enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession.  (11)(10) Enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.(12)(11) Assessing call center protocols by doing both of the following:(A) Establishing a process for tracking and periodically analyzing the reasons why unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants call for assistance.(B) Analyzing the data gathered to improve the departments call center by doing both of the following:(i) Identifying and resolving weaknesses or problems with the ways in which the department assists unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants through self-serve services and non-call center options.(ii) Developing specialized training modules to quickly train call center staff on the most commonly requested items with which callers want assistance.(12) Summarizing actions taken by the department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously submitted in accordance with subdivision (b).(b) (1) The department shall provide a copy of the recession plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance by March 1, 2022, and update the recession plan and provide a copy to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance every second year thereafter.(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

339. (a) The department shall develop and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession. The plan shall detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) Identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.(2) Identifying the indicators the department will be monitoring and using to project the likely upcoming workload impacts.(3) Identifying the steps the department will take to address increases in its workload, such as cross-training staff, changing its staffing levels, prioritizing specific tasks, and adjusting the way it performs certain work, including addressing all of the following factors:(A) How quickly staff can be hired.(B) Whether there is physical space for staff.(C) Whether the selected location has the technology that will be needed.(4) Analyzing current job duties or classifications and ensuring the right staff is doing the right work, including all of the following factors:(A) Whether current staff is ready to take on more complex work, increased volumes of work, or both.(B) Identification of a backup system for a sudden influx of work.(C) Assessing how existing seasonal and part-time staff is utilized, including whether the department can temporarily alter the work duties of current staff instead of hiring new staff.(D) Assessing how current staff can be cross-trained.(E) Extending hours of operation.(5) Identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times to speak to staff.(6) Assessing the current inventory of equipment, including both of the following:(A) Determining if the department should lease equipment.(B) Determining if there is enough equipment to support anticipated increased staffing levels.(7) Identifying the altered policies or procedures that the department would activate if a rise in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims became significant enough to warrant that step.(8) Analyzing communications, including determining if additional lines of communication are needed, such as additional phone lines, additional email boxes, and external communications, including, but not limited to, social media.(9) Identifying budget and funding constraints.(10)Enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession.  (11)(10) Enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.(12)(11) Assessing call center protocols by doing both of the following:(A) Establishing a process for tracking and periodically analyzing the reasons why unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants call for assistance.(B) Analyzing the data gathered to improve the departments call center by doing both of the following:(i) Identifying and resolving weaknesses or problems with the ways in which the department assists unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants through self-serve services and non-call center options.(ii) Developing specialized training modules to quickly train call center staff on the most commonly requested items with which callers want assistance.(12) Summarizing actions taken by the department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously submitted in accordance with subdivision (b).(b) (1) The department shall provide a copy of the recession plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance by March 1, 2022, and update the recession plan and provide a copy to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance every second year thereafter.(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.



339. (a) The department shall develop and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement a recession plan to prepare for an increase in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims due to an economic recession. The plan shall detail how to respond to economic downturns with a predetermined strategy that has considered the full effect on the departments operations, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Identifying the lessons learned from previous economic downturns, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

(2) Identifying the indicators the department will be monitoring and using to project the likely upcoming workload impacts.

(3) Identifying the steps the department will take to address increases in its workload, such as cross-training staff, changing its staffing levels, prioritizing specific tasks, and adjusting the way it performs certain work, including addressing all of the following factors:

(A) How quickly staff can be hired.

(B) Whether there is physical space for staff.

(C) Whether the selected location has the technology that will be needed.

(4) Analyzing current job duties or classifications and ensuring the right staff is doing the right work, including all of the following factors:

(A) Whether current staff is ready to take on more complex work, increased volumes of work, or both.

(B) Identification of a backup system for a sudden influx of work.

(C) Assessing how existing seasonal and part-time staff is utilized, including whether the department can temporarily alter the work duties of current staff instead of hiring new staff.

(D) Assessing how current staff can be cross-trained.

(E) Extending hours of operation.

(5) Identifying ways to improve self-serve services to avoid long wait times to speak to staff.

(6) Assessing the current inventory of equipment, including both of the following:

(A) Determining if the department should lease equipment.

(B) Determining if there is enough equipment to support anticipated increased staffing levels.

(7) Identifying the altered policies or procedures that the department would activate if a rise in unemployment insurance compensation benefits claims became significant enough to warrant that step.

(8) Analyzing communications, including determining if additional lines of communication are needed, such as additional phone lines, additional email boxes, and external communications, including, but not limited to, social media.

(9) Identifying budget and funding constraints.

(10)Enhanced fraud prevention and detection procedures for use during a recession. 



(11)



(10) Enhancing claims processing tools to ensure that the departments identity verification processes are as robust as possible.

(12)



(11) Assessing call center protocols by doing both of the following:

(A) Establishing a process for tracking and periodically analyzing the reasons why unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants call for assistance.

(B) Analyzing the data gathered to improve the departments call center by doing both of the following:

(i) Identifying and resolving weaknesses or problems with the ways in which the department assists unemployment insurance compensation benefits claimants through self-serve services and non-call center options.

(ii) Developing specialized training modules to quickly train call center staff on the most commonly requested items with which callers want assistance.

(12) Summarizing actions taken by the department to implement recommendations contained in the recession plan previously submitted in accordance with subdivision (b).

(b) (1) The department shall provide a copy of the recession plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance by March 1, 2022, and update the recession plan and provide a copy to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and the Department of Finance every second year thereafter.

(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.