MS HB1667

MDES must report to House and Senate labor committee chairs within 90 days on COVID-19 costs to the unemployment insurance fund that were not reimbursed by the federal government under the CARES Act, including breakdown of costs for regular unemployment payments and administrative expenses

Legislature shall appropriate CARES Act funds equal to the reported shortfall to replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund

MDES shall improve its phone system to include automated call-back options, caller choice extensions, and limit hold times to 30 minutes or less

MDES website must include detailed application requirements, instructional videos, online chat capability, appointment scheduling for phone calls, and be made mobile-friendly or include a mobile app

Legislature shall appropriate CARES Act funds for expedited debit card shipping to unemployment benefits recipients, and MDES may contract with a professional group to create public service announcements and instructional videos, with contract cost not exceeding $100,000