HB 5764 Summary

• Amends Michigan Employment Security Act to expand penalties for intentional violations and fraud related to unemployment benefits, with tiered penalties based on amounts obtained ($25,000, $100,000 thresholds) including imprisonment up to 5 years and community service up to 10,400 hours.

• Establishes recovery provisions allowing unemployment agency to recover amounts obtained through fraud plus damages of 2-4 times the amount, with distinction between intentional failures to comply and knowing violations.

• Extends criminal penalties to persons associated with colleges, universities, community colleges, and workforce development agencies who misuse confidential unemployment information obtained during research projects or reveal individual identities.

• Clarifies that violations apply even if amounts were previously reported or paid, and specifies how recovered amounts are credited to unemployment compensation fund, contingent fund, and penalty/interest accounts.

• Takes effect 90 days after enactment, contingent on passage of HB 5763.