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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session |
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HB 2108: unemployment benefits; requirements; disqualifications
Sponsor: Representative Livingston, LD 28
Committee on Commerce
Overview
Creates requirements and factors to determine the validity and eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.
History
The Department of Economic Security (DES) administers the unemployment insurance benefit program, which provides temporary financial relief to eligible unemployed individuals who separate from their previous employers at no fault of their own. In order to be eligible for UI benefits, an individual must be able to work, available for work and actively seeking work. Further, the individual must engage in a systematic and sustained effort to search for work on at least four different days each week and make at least four work search contacts each week.
DES examines any claim for benefits and determines whether the claim is valid. DES must promptly notify the claimant of the determination. The claimant has 15 days from the date the notification was mailed to appeal the determination.
Individuals who fail to apply for available and suitable work, actively engage in seeking work, accept suitable work when offered or return to customary self-employment as directed by DES are disqualified from UI benefits (Title 23, Chapter 4, A.R.S.).
Provisions
1.
Prevents DES from paying UI benefits
until an initial or ongoing claim is cross-checked for validity against
outlined data sets. (Sec. 2)
2. Stipulates a claim will not be paid and the claimant is disqualified from receiving benefits and referred for prosecution if a cross-check indicates that the claim is ineligible or fraudulent. (Sec. 2)
3. Directs DES, prior to paying benefits, to examine any initial claim and confirm the claim's validity if the claim:
a) Was submitted electronically through an internet address located outside of Arizona;
b) References an address for which another current claim was submitted; or
c) Is associated with a direct deposit for a bank account already sued for another current claim. (Sec. 2)
4. Allows DES to refer the matter for prosecution if a fraudulent claim was filed. (Sec. 2)
5. Clarifies the individual is disqualified for benefits for failure to actively seek and apply for suitable work, to accept an offer of suitable work or accept reemployment at the same employer, if offered. (Sec. 3)
6. Requires the individual to conduct at least five specified work search actions each week to qualify as actively seeking and applying for suitable work. (Sec. 3)
7. Stipulates the individual must provide a weekly report that details the work search actions for every week a benefit is sought. (Sec. 3)
8. Directs an employer to report to DES when an individual who was a previous employee:
a) Refuses to return to work or accept an offer of suitable work; or
b) Fails to appear for a scheduled interview or respond to an offer of employment. (Sec. 3)
9. Permits employers to submit the required report to DES either digitally or through email. (Sec. 3)
10. Requires DES to conduct an independent review of each submitted report to determine whether an individual should be disqualified from receiving benefits. (Sec. 3)
11. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)
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15. HB 2108
16. Initials PRB Page 0 Commerce
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