FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5636

                              C 92 L 89

BYSenators Smitherman and Lee; by request of Employment Security Department

Revising the state/federal relationship regarding unemployment compensation benefits, recovery, and confidentiality.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Changes in federal regulations concerning alien workers require minor wording changes to corresponding state statutes. 

Currently, the Department of Employment Security may collect overpayments on behalf of other states only if such overpayments were due to fraud.  An ability to pursue other kinds of overpayments could reduce the amount of outstanding debt owed to the trust fund.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics provides survey and other information to the department.  The bureau has indicated that current law does not provide sufficient protection of data confidentiality, and has stopped supplying information to the department.

SUMMARY:

Unemployment compensation statutes are clarified to conform to federal regulations regarding an alien worker to be "lawfully present" on the job.

The Commissioner of Employment Security may enter into cooperative agreements with other states for collection of any valid unemployment compensation overpayments.

Information provided to the Department of Employment Security on the basis of confidentiality will have that confidentiality maintained.  Any requests for such information must go to the agency originally providing it.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   48    0

     House 97  0

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989