H.B. 743 - Unemployment Insurance Administrative Changes

• Changes "Division" to "Board of Review" in multiple statutes to reflect the Board's role in conducting hearings and determining employer rights and liabilities under unemployment insurance law.

• Establishes the Unemployment Insurance Reserve Fund as an enterprise fund rather than a special revenue fund, with revenues from a 20% surtax on employer contributions.

• Transfers penalties collected on unpaid surtaxes and supplemental employment security taxes to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund established in G.S. 115C-457.1.

• Modifies unemployment benefit eligibility rules including disciplinary suspension periods (30 or fewer days), work search requirements, and the calculation of benefit duration based on seasonal adjusted unemployment rates for preceding three-month periods.

• Requires employers to file timely protests of unemployment claims within 14 days of notice and establishes that no benefit payments are made until the employer files a protest, the protest period expires, or a determination is made.

• Directs the Governor to appoint Board of Review members by September 1, 2013, without requiring General Assembly confirmation for initial appointments.