CA AB500

Expands the scope of convictions triggering unemployment insurance benefit forfeiture and ineligibility to include convictions in any state or federal court, not just California state courts.

Eliminates the requirement for the department to provide 10 days' written notice before filing a criminal complaint for unemployment insurance fraud.

Increases civil penalties from $1,000 to $25,000 and upgrades certain violations from misdemeanors to felonies, with maximum imprisonment increased from one year to five years for various offenses.

Directs the department to deposit repayments and penalties into specific funds: the Employment Development Department Benefit Audit Fund for unemployment compensation violations and the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund for disability compensation violations.

Makes conspiracy to violate unemployment insurance laws subject to the same penalties and imprisonment as the underlying violations, rather than general conspiracy penalties.