Massachusetts 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3123 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/16/2023

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1130       FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3123
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marcus S. Vaughn
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to assessing the costs of unemployment fraud.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1130       FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3123
By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3123) of 
Marcus S. Vaughn that the State Auditor conduct a comprehensive audit of the Department of 
Unemployment Assistance to determine the level of unemployment fraud during the 2019 novel 
coronavirus pandemic. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3137 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to assessing the costs of unemployment fraud.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of the state 
2auditor shall conduct a comprehensive audit of the department of unemployment assistance to 
3determine the level of unemployment fraud that has taken place during the 2019 novel 
4coronavirus pandemic, also known as COVID-19. The audit shall include, but not be limited to: 
5(1) a review and examination of the policies and procedures of the department of unemployment 
6assistance to prevent and address unemployment fraud; (2) a review of any and all costs to the 
7state and taxpayers due to unemployment fraud during the course of the pandemic; and (3) any 
8recommendations regarding how to improve the department of unemployment’s policies to 
9prevent unemployment fraud.  2 of 2
10 The department of the state auditor shall publish a report of its findings and make the 
11report available to the public not later than December 31, 2021.