MO HB611

Requires employers to submit W-4 withholding forms or equivalent data to the Department of Revenue within twenty days of hiring new employees, with information forwarded to the State Directory of New Hires and National Directory of New Hires.

Expands the definition of "misconduct" for unemployment benefits eligibility to include knowing disregard of employer standards, chronic absenteeism or tardiness violating known policies, and violations of employer rules unless the employee reasonably did not know of the rule or the rule is unlawful.

Allows claimants to satisfy reporting requirements for unemployment benefits through internet communication or other means deemed acceptable by the Division of Employment Security, rather than requiring in-person reporting.

Establishes that employers cannot be relieved of unemployment benefit charges for erroneous payments if the employer or its agent failed to respond timely or adequately to division requests for information and has established a pattern of such failures.

Modifies fraud penalty provisions to require that 15 percent of fraudulently obtained benefits be deposited into the unemployment compensation fund effective October 1, 2013, with the remaining penalty amount credited to the special employment security fund.