Bill Text: MS HB1402 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Unemployment Insurance Integrity Act of 2022; create.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2022-02-01 - Died In Committee [HB1402 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2022-HB1402-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Carpenter

House Bill 1402

AN ACT TO CREATE THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE INTEGRITY ACT OF 2022; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM AND TO VERIFY ELIGIBILITY AND PREVENT FRAUDULENT FILING AND PAYMENT OF CLAIMS, THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY SHALL USE THE INTEGRITY DATA HUB TO VERIFY THE INTEGRITY OF THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ROLLS, CHECK, ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ROLLS AGAINST THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' LIST OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO VERIFY ELIGIBILITY AND ENSURE PROGRAM INTEGRITY, AND CHECK, ON A WEEKLY BASIS, NEW HIRE RECORDS AGAINST THE NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF NEW HIRES TO VERIFY ELIGIBILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  The provisions of this section shall be known and may be cited as the "Unemployment Insurance Integrity Act of 2022."

     (2)  The following words and phrases shall have the meanings as defined in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

          (a)  "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

          (b)  "New hire records" means the directory of newly hired and re-hired employees reported under state and federal law and managed by the department.

          (c)  "Unemployment insurance rolls" means unemployed workers receiving unemployment insurance in the state.

          (d)  "Integrity Data Hub" means the centralized, multi-state data analysis took used by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, which allows participating state unemployment insurance agencies to cross-match unemployment insurance claims against a database of information associated with potentially fraudulent claims or overpayments. 

          (e)  "National Directory of New Hires" means the database that stores personal and financial data on employed individuals across the country and contains information and data on individuals receiving unemployment compensation.

     (3)  To ensure the integrity of the state's unemployment insurance program and to verify eligibility and prevent fraudulent filing and payment of claims, the department shall:

          (a)  Use the Integrity Data Hub to verify the integrity of the state's unemployment insurance rolls;

          (b)  Check, on a weekly basis, the unemployment insurance rolls against the Mississippi Department of Corrections' list of incarcerated individuals to verify eligibility and ensure program integrity; and

          (c)  Check, on a weekly basis, new hire records against the National Directorate of New Hires to verify eligibility.

     (4)  The department shall have the authority to execute a memorandum of understanding with any department, agency or division for information required to be shared between agencies outlined in this section.

     (5)  If the department receives information concerning an individual enrolled in the unemployment compensation insurance program that indicates a change in circumstances that may affect his or her eligibility, the department shall review the individual's case and make a final determination of his or her eligibility as otherwise provided by law.

     (6)  The department shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

     (7)  The provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Integrity Act of 2022 shall supersede any other provision of law to the contrary.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.

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