The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Carla S. Roberts.
DIGEST
Crowe (SB 594)
Present law provides that a former employee can be disqualified for unemployment benefits
under certain circumstances.
Present law provides that when a former employee is disqualified from receiving unemployment
benefits, the employer's experience rating account shall not be charged under certain
circumstances so long as the employer timely filed notice.
Present law provides that in making determinations of unemployment claims, the administrator
shall require that information necessary for the prompt determination of claims be sought from
each employer. Present law provides that a response to such requests shall be timely if it is
received within 10 days of mailing
Proposed law changes the time in which to respond to the notice from 10 days from the date of
mailing to the time specified in the notice.
Present law provides that the employer must complete all forms and reports that are requested by
the administrator of the office of workers' compensation.
Proposed law changes the requirement that forms be completed by employers from "as
requested" to "as needed".
Proposed law retains present law but provides that a response is adequate if it provides
sufficient facts to enable the agency to make the correct determination.
Proposed law provides that a response may not be considered inadequate if the agency failed
to ask for all necessary information.
Proposed law provides that no contributing employer's reserve account or reimbursable
employer's account shall be relieved of any charges for benefits relating to an improper benefit
payment to a claimant established after October 21, 2013, if the improper benefit payment was
made because the employer, or an agent of the employer, was at fault for failing to respond
timely or adequately to the request of the administrator for information relating to a claim for
benefits.
Proposed law provides the following definitions:
(1)"Employer's reserve account" means that employer's account which contains the
amounts of money held in reserve to pay unemployment benefit claims to covered individuals who were employed by the employer.
(2)"Reimbursable employer's account" means that accounting method used by the
unemployment administrator to invoice the state, its political subdivisions, nonprofit
organizations, and Indian tribes or tribal units for unemployment benefits paid to
covered individuals who were employed by such entities.
Effective retroactively to October 21, 2013.
(Amends R.S. 23:1625.1(A) and (B); adds R.S. 23:1553.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial
Relations to the original bill
1. Changes the time in which to respond to the notice from 10 days from the date
of mailing to the time specified in the notice.
2. Changes the requirement that forms be completed by employers from "as
requested" to "as needed".