DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 247 Original 2024 Regular Session Echols
Abstract: Provides for penalties for the acceptance of overpayments of unemployment benefits.
Present law provides for the payment of unemployment benefits to persons qualifying for such
benefits.
Present law provides that an individual shall be disqualified for benefits for the week, or a fraction
thereof, with respect to which he makes a false statement or representation knowing it to be false,
or knowingly fails to disclose a material fact in obtaining or increasing benefits, whether or not he
is successful in obtaining or increasing benefits, or otherwise due to his fraud receives any amount
as benefits under present law to which he was not entitled, for the remainder of the benefit year
subsequent to the commission of the fraudulent act and continuing for the 52 weeks which
immediately follow the week in which such determination was made.
Proposed law removes the 52-week disqualification period and, instead, provides that the individual
shall be disqualified until the benefits obtained plus any penalty imposed in accordance with R.S.
23:1714 are repaid, or until 10 years have elapsed from the date of disqualification.
Proposed law provides that in all overpayments involving $1000 or more of benefits obtained as a
result of fraud, as defined in present law (R.S. 23:1601(8)), the administrator shall refer all
information relating to the overpayment and claimant to the office of the district attorney in which
the claimant resides.
Proposed law further provides that acceptance of such overpayment shall be considered a crime of
theft under present law (R.S. 14:67), and provides that neither a criminal referral or conviction is
necessary for the administrator to assess any civil penalty.
Effective Dec. 31, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 23:1601(8); Adds R.S. 23:1714(D))