Bill Text: VA HB2040 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Unemployment compensation; continuation of benefits, repayment of overpayments.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 28-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-04-07 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0539) [HB2040 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HB2040-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§60.2-619 and 60.2-633 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§60.2-619. Determinations and decisions by deputy; appeals therefrom.
A. 1. A representative designated by the Commission as a deputy, shall promptly examine the claim. On the basis of the facts found by him, the deputy shall either:
a. Determine whether or not such claim is valid, and if valid, the week with respect to which benefits shall commence, the weekly benefit amount payable and the maximum duration thereof; or
b. Refer such claim or any question involved therein to any appeal tribunal or to the Commission, which tribunal or Commission shall make its determination in accordance with the procedure described in §60.2-620.
2. When the payment or denial of benefits will be determined by the provisions of subdivision 2 of §60.2-612, the deputy shall promptly transmit his full finding of fact with respect to that subdivision to any appeal tribunal, which shall make its determination in accordance with the procedure described in §60.2-620.
B. Upon the filing of an initial claim for benefits, the
Commission shall cause an informatory notice of such filing to be mailed to the
most recent 30-day or 240-hour employing unit of the claimant and all
subsequent employing units, and any reimbursable employing units which
that may be liable for reimbursement to the Commission for any benefits
paid. However, the failure to furnish such notice shall not have any effect
upon the claim for benefits. If a claimant has had a determination of
initial eligibility for benefits under this chapter, as evidenced by the
issuance of compensation or waiting-week credit, payments shall continue,
subject to a presumption of continued eligibility and in accordance with the
terms of this subsection, until a determination is made that provides the
claimant notice and an opportunity to be heard. When a question concerning
continued eligibility for benefits arises, a determination shall be made as to
whether it affects future weeks of benefits or only past weeks. With respect to
future weeks, presumptive payment shall not be made until but no later than the
end of the week following the week in which such issue arises, regardless of
the type of issue. With respect to past weeks, presumptive payment shall be
issued immediately, regardless of the type of issue. Notice shall be given to
individuals who receive payments under such presumption that pending
eligibility may affect their entitlement to the payment and may result in an
overpayment that requires repayment.
C. Notice of determination upon a claim shall be promptly
given to the claimant by delivering or by mailing such notice to the claimant's
last known address. In addition, notice of any determination which
that involves the application of the provisions of §60.2-618, together
with the reasons therefor, shall be promptly given in the same manner to the
most recent 30-day or 240-hour employing unit by whom the claimant was last
employed and any subsequent employing unit which is a party. The Commission may
dispense with the giving of notice of any determination to any employing unit,
and such employing unit shall not be entitled to such notice if it has failed
to respond timely or adequately to a written request of the Commission for
information, as required by §60.2-528.1, from which the deputy may have
determined that the claimant may be ineligible or disqualified under any
provision of this title. The deputy shall promptly notify the claimant of any
decision made by him at any time which in any manner denies benefits to the claimant
for one or more weeks.
D. Such determination or decision shall be final unless the claimant or any such employing unit files an appeal from such determination or decision (i) within 30 calendar days after the delivery of such notification, (ii) within 30 calendar days after such notification was mailed to his last known address, or (iii) within 30 days after such notification was mailed to the last known address of an interstate claimant. For good cause shown, the 30-day period may be extended.
E. Benefits shall be paid promptly in accordance with a determination or redetermination under this chapter, or decision of an appeal tribunal, the Commission, the Board of Review or a reviewing court under §§ 60.2-625 and 60.2-631 upon the issuance of such determination, redetermination or decision, regardless of the pendency of the period to file an appeal or petition for judicial review that is provided in this chapter, or the pendency of any such appeal or review. Such benefits shall be paid unless or until such determination, redetermination or decision has been modified or reversed by a subsequent redetermination or decision, in which event benefits shall be paid or denied for weeks of unemployment thereafter in accordance with such modifying or reversing redetermination or decision. If a decision of an appeal tribunal allowing benefits is affirmed in any amount by the Commission, benefits shall continue to be paid until such time as a court decision has become final so that no further appeal can be taken. If an appeal is taken from the Commission's decision, benefits paid shall result in a benefit charge to the account of the employer under §60.2-530 only when, and as of the date on which, as the result of an appeal, the courts finally determine that the Commission should have awarded benefits to the claimant or claimants involved in such appeal.
§60.2-633. Receiving benefits to which not entitled.
A. Any person who has received any sum as benefits under this title to which he was not entitled shall be liable to repay such sum to the Commission. For purposes of this section, "benefits under this title" includes benefits under an unemployment benefit program of the United States or of any other state. In the event the claimant does not refund the overpayment, the Commission shall deduct from any future benefits such sum payable to him under this title. The Commission shall waive the requirement to repay the overpayment after an individual case review if (i) the overpayment was made without fault on the part of the individual and (ii) requiring repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.
For the purposes of this section:
1. An overpayment made "without fault on the part of the individual" shall include overpayments that (i) result from administrative error; (ii) are the result of inducement, solicitation, or coercion on the part of the employer; or (iii) result from the employer's failure to respond timely or adequately to the Commission's request for information, as required by § 60.2-528.1. An overpayment shall not be considered "without fault on the part of the individual" if such overpayment was the result of (a) a reversal in the appeals process, unless the employer failed to respond timely or adequately to the Commission's request for information regarding the individual's separation from employment, or (b) a programming, technological, or automated system error not directly associated with an individual claim that results in erroneous payments to a group of individuals.
2. It shall be contrary to equity and good conscience if requiring repayment of an overpayment would deprive the individual of the income required to provide for basic necessities, including shelter, food, medicine, child care, or any other essential living expenses.
However, if an overpayment of benefits under this chapter,
but not under an unemployment benefit program of the United States or of any
other state, occurred due to administrative error, For any overpayment
where repayment is not forgiven, the Commission shall have the authority to
negotiate the terms of repayment, which shall include (i) (a)
deducting up to 50 percent of the payable amount for any future week of
benefits claimed, rounded down to the next lowest dollar until the overpayment
is satisfied; (ii) (b) forgoing collection of the payable amount
until the recipient has found employment as defined in §60.2-212; or (iii)
(c) determining and instituting an individualized repayment plan.
The Commission shall collect an overpayment of benefits under
this chapter caused by administrative error only by offset against future
benefits or a negotiated repayment plan; however, the Commission may institute
any other method of collection if the individual fails to enter into or comply
with the terms of the repayment plan. Administrative error shall not include
decisions reversed in the appeals process. In addition, the overpayment
Overpayments where the obligation to repay has not been
waived may be collectible by civil action in the name of the Commission.
Amounts collected in this manner may be subject to an interest charge as
prescribed in §58.1-15 from the date of judgment and may be subject to fees
and costs. Collection activities for any benefit overpayment established of
five dollars $5 or less may be suspended. The Commission may, for
good cause, determine as uncollectible and discharge from its records any
benefit overpayment which remains unpaid after the expiration of seven years
from the date such overpayment was determined, or immediately upon the death of
such person or upon his discharge in bankruptcy occurring subsequently to the
determination of overpayment. Any existing overpayment balance not equal to an
even dollar amount shall be rounded to the next lowest even dollar amount.
B. The Commission is authorized to accept repayment of benefit overpayments by use of a credit card. The Virginia Employment Commission shall add to such payment a service charge for the acceptance of such card. Such service charge shall not exceed the percentage charged to the Virginia Employment Commission for use of such card.
C. No determination with respect to benefit overpayments shall be issued until after a determination or decision that finds a claimant ineligible or disqualified for benefits previously paid has become final.
C. D. Final orders of the Commission with
respect to benefit overpayments may be recorded, enforced, and satisfied
as orders or decrees of a circuit court upon certification of such orders by
the Commissioner as may be appropriate.
2. That the Virginia Employment Commission (the Commission) shall notify each person with an unpaid overpayment of benefits established for claim weeks paid commencing March 15, 2020, under Chapter 6 (§60.2-600 et seq.) of Title 60.2 of the Code of Virginia, or under an unemployment benefit program of the United States or any other state, that such individual may be entitled to a waiver of obligation to repay such overpayment and shall provide 30 days from the date of such notification for the individual to request a waiver of repayment. For good cause shown, the Commission may extend the 30-day period for requesting a waiver. The Commission shall conduct an individualized review and adjudicate any request received in accordance with the provisions of §60.2-619 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, and any individual who is denied a waiver shall have the right to appeal as provided in subsection D of §60.2-619 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act. In ruling on any waiver request, the Commission shall apply the provisions of Title 60.2 or, if applicable, the overpayment waiver provisions of any unemployment compensation program of the United States.
3. That the provisions of this act that allow the waiver of any obligation to repay overpayments established for the week commencing March 15, 2020, through the week commencing June 26, 2021, shall apply only to overpayment balances that remain outstanding as of July 1, 2021. Amounts already paid or collected against such overpayments shall not be reimbursed to the claimant, except for benefits paid under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.
4. That notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Virginia Employment Commission may suspend or forgo referring any overpayment established since March 15, 2020, to the collections process established under §2.2-4806 of the Code of Virginia. However, the authority to suspend or forgo such referrals shall expire on July 1, 2022.
5. That all costs to the Unemployment Compensation Fund (the Fund) resulting from the provisions of this act for overpayments of benefits under Chapter 6 (§60.2-600 et seq.) of Title 60.2 of the Code of Virginia shall be reimbursed to the Fund from the general fund in the general appropriation act.
6. That the provisions of this act shall expire on July 1, 2022.
