ENROLLED
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 66
BY REPRESENTATIVE BEAULLIEU
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 23:1605, relative to unemployment compensation; to provide for definitions;
3 to require the Louisiana Workforce Commission to conduct certain checks with
4 respect to unemployment compensation; to provide for data sharing; to require
5 annual reports; to provide for the promulgation of rules; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 23:1605 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง1605. Unemployment insurance integrity program
10 A. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms have the meanings
11 ascribed to them:
12 (1) "Department" means the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
13 (2) "Integrity Data Hub" means the centralized, multi-state data analysis tool
14 utilized by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, which allows
15 participating state unemployment insurance agencies to cross-match unemployment
16 insurance claims against a database of information associated with potentially
17 fraudulent claims or overpayments.
18 (3) "National Directory of New Hires" means the database that stores
19 personal and financial data on employed individuals across the country and contains
20 information and data on individuals receiving unemployment compensation.
21 (4) "New hire records" means the directory of newly hired and re-hired
22 employees reported under state and federal law and managed by the child support
23 enforcement section, division of family support, office of children and family
24 services, Department of Children and Family Services.
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1 (5) "Unemployment insurance rolls" means unemployed workers receiving
2 unemployment insurance in the state.
3 B. The department shall be tasked with the responsibility of enhancing the
4 integrity of the state's unemployment insurance program.
5 C. To ensure the integrity of the unemployment insurance program and to
6 verify eligibility and to prevent fraudulent filing and payment of claims, the
7 department is required to do all of the following:
8 (1) The department may use commercially available database solutions to
9 check new hire records against the state's unemployment insurance rolls on a weekly
10 basis.
11 (2) The department, on a weekly basis, shall check new hire records against
12 the National Directory of New Hires.
13 (3) The department shall check the Integrity Data Hub or another
14 commercially available database.
15 (4) The department, on a weekly basis, shall check the unemployment
16 insurance rolls against the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections'
17 list of incarcerated individuals.
18 D. When the department receives information concerning an individual who
19 is participating in the unemployment compensation insurance program that indicates
20 a change in circumstances that may affect his eligibility, the department shall review
21 the individual's case and make a final determination of his eligibility in accordance
22 with the provisions of R.S. 23:1600 and 1601.
23 E. Pursuant to the performance of all cross-match activities required by this
24 Section, the Louisiana Workforce Commission shall provide to the legislature a
25 report on or before June thirtieth annually. The report shall include all of the
26 following:
27 (1) The department's rate of consistency in performing the weekly checks
28 against the Integrity Data Hub or another commercially available database and the
29 National Directory of New Hires.
30 (2) The type and amount of improper payments detected retroactively.
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1 (3) The type and amount of improper payments prevented.
2 (4) The dollar amount the state has saved in preventing improper payments
3 and, if any, in recouping improper payments.
4 F. The department shall have the authority to execute a memorandum of
5 understanding with any state department, agency, or division for data that is
6 necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section.
7 G. The Louisiana Workforce Commission shall promulgate all rules and
8 regulations necessary for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Section.
9 Section 2.(A) This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Unemployment
10 Insurance Program Integrity Act of 2020".
11 (B) The purpose of this Act is to enhance program integrity for the state's
12 unemployment insurance program.
13 Section 3. This Act shall become effective January 1, 2021.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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