CA AB1637

Amends the California Control of Profits of Organized Crime Act to include fraud offenses related to COVID-19 pandemic-related insurance programs administered by the Employment Development Department within the definition of criminal profiteering activity.

Requires proceeds from asset forfeiture in cases involving COVID-19 pandemic-related insurance program fraud to be returned to the Employment Development Department rather than distributed to the General Fund.

Expands existing insurance fraud offenses under the Unemployment Insurance Code (Sections 2106, 2108, 2109, 2110, 2110.3, 2110.5, 2110.7, and 2117) to be treated as criminal profiteering activity.

Declares the act an urgency statute effective immediately as of September 30, 2022, to deter fraudulent unemployment and disability insurance claims and preserve benefit availability for eligible claimants.