2021 Montana Legislature
_____________ bill NO. _____________
INTRODUCED
BY _________________________________________________
By Request of the ****
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM INTEGRITY ACT; providing definitions; requiring the department of Labor and industry to verify the integrity of the unemployment insurance rolls; requiring reporting to the legislature; and PROVIDING a delayed EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Short title. [Sections 1 through 4] may be cited as the "Unemployment Insurance Program Integrity Act".
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of [sections 1 through 4] is to enhance program integrity for the state's unemployment insurance program by requiring the state to utilize a commercially available database to verify the integrity of the state's unemployment insurance rolls, check new hire records against unemployment insurance rolls on a weekly basis, and check federal, state, county, and local prison and jail records.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Definitions. For the purposes of [sections 1 through 4], the following definitions apply:
(1) "Department of corrections" means the Montana department of corrections as provided in 2-15-2301.
(2) "Department of labor" means the Montana department of labor and industry, which is charged with administering the state's unemployment insurance program as provided in Article XII, section 2, of the Montana constitution.
(3) "New hire records" means the directory of newly hired and rehired employees reported under state and federal law and managed by the department of labor.
(4) "Unemployment insurance rolls" means jobless workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Department duties -- integrity data hub -- review of information -- reporting to legislature. The department of labor shall:
(1) engage with and utilize a commercially available database to verify the integrity of the state's unemployment insurance rolls to verify the integrity of the state's unemployment insurance rolls;
(2) on a weekly basis, check the unemployment insurance rolls against the department of corrections list of incarcerated individuals to verify eligibility and ensure program integrity;
(3) on a weekly basis, check new hire records against the national directorate of new hires to verify eligibility;
(4) have the authority to execute a memorandum of understanding with any department, agency, or division for information required to be shared between agencies as outlined in [sections 1 through 4];
(5) if it receives information concerning an individual receiving unemployment insurance benefits that indicates a change in circumstances that may affect eligibility, review the individual's case; and
(6) report to the economic affairs interim committee in accordance with 5-11-210 relating to the administration of [sections 1 through 4].
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 through 4] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 39, chapter 51, and the provisions of Title 39, chapter 51, apply to [sections 1 through 4].
NEW SECTION. Section 6. Effective date. [This act] is effective January 1, 2022.