Substitute Senate Bill 302 Summary

• Establishes a federal program income verification system requiring the Director of Job and Family Services to verify annual tax return filings using tax commissioner records for non-employment compensation programs.

• Creates data matching agreements with the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and Director of Health to check incarceration and death records when determining unemployment benefit applications and claims validity.

• Requires the Director of Job and Family Services to establish an online employer complaint process allowing employers to report applicants or recipients failing to meet eligibility requirements under section 4141.29.

• Requires annual reporting to the legislature on unemployment compensation call center volumes, claims filed, potentially fraudulent claims, benefits recipient complaints, and technology updates.

• Delays state income tax withholding election for unemployment benefits to January 1, 2025, and requires the director to notify continuing benefit recipients by December 1, 2024 about the option to elect state tax withholding.