HB6182 Summary

• Requires the unemployment agency to verify weekly that each benefits claimant is eligible by checking the Integrity Data Hub, National Directory of New Hires, department of corrections database, state death records, and other relevant sources.

• Mandates the unemployment agency submit an annual written report by February 1 to legislative committees detailing weekly verification compliance, improper payments discovered, and improper payments prevented.

• Establishes a 60-day window after benefit issuance for the unemployment agency to recover improperly paid benefits using standard methods; after 60 days, recovery is limited to amounts resulting from claimants overstating earnings by $500 or more.

• Reduces the poverty threshold for waiving repayment of improperly paid benefits from 150% to 125% of federal poverty guidelines and adds a $5,000 threshold for waiving recovery of payments caused by agency administrative or clerical errors.

• Changes agency discretion from "shall" to "may" waive recovery of improperly paid benefits when repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.