CA SB420

Establishes the Unemployment Insurance Integrity Enforcement Program within the Department of Justice, administered by the Attorney General, with a task force consisting of the EDD Director and 5 Attorney General-appointed members to investigate and recover fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits.

Requires the task force to prepare a cost-benefit analysis before pursuing civil or criminal actions, considering likelihood of success, ability to collect misappropriated funds, and litigation costs.

Directs the task force to coordinate with county district attorneys and federal law enforcement agencies to recover improper benefit payments made during the pandemic when claims surged and fraud controls were overwhelmed.

Authorizes the Attorney General to establish a grant program beginning January 1, 2023 (upon legislative appropriation) to fund district attorney efforts to prosecute unemployment insurance fraud, with priority given to multicounty efforts with greatest potential to reduce fraud.

Requires the Employment Development Department to provide relevant claimant information to task force members for fraud investigations, with exemptions from criminal sanctions for authorized information sharing under federal law.