Georgia HB 583: Employment security; access and dissemination of certain information and documents related to claims for unemployment benefits; provide

Bill Text

21 LC 36 4464
H. B. 583
- 1 -
House Bill 583
By: Representatives Wilkerson of the 38
th, Schofield of the 60
th, Burnough of the 77
th, Scott
of the 76
th, Davis of the 87
th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
employment security, so as to provide for access and dissemination of certain information2
and documents related to claims for unemployment benefits; to require the Commissioner3
of Labor to provide periodic reports containing certain information related to claims for4
unemployment compensation benefits; to provide members of the General Assembly with5
access to information and documents concerning constitutents' claims for unemployment6
benefits with such individuals' consent; to require the Department of Labor to develop and7
make available a consent form for such purpose; to provide for related matters; to provide8
for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
SECTION 1.11
Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment12
security, is amended by revising Code Section 34-8-70, relating to duties and powers of the13
Commissioner, as follows:14
"34-8-70.15
(a) It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to administer this chapter.16

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(b) The Commissioner shall have power and authority to adopt, amend, or rescind such17
rules and regulations and to employ such persons, make such expenditures, require such18
reports, make such investigations, and take such other action as deemed necessary or19
suitable to that end, and such rules and regulations shall be effective upon publication in20
the manner, not inconsistent with this chapter, which the Commissioner shall prescribe.21
(c) The Commissioner shall determine methods of organization and procedure in22
accordance with this chapter and shall have an official seal, which shall be judicially23
noticed.24
(d) Not later than February 1 of each year, the Commissioner shall submit to the Governor25
a report covering the administration and operation of this chapter during the preceding26
fiscal year and shall make such recommendations for amendments to this chapter as27
deemed proper. Such report shall include a balance sheet of the moneys in the fund in28
which there shall be provided, if possible, a reserve against the liability in the future years29
to pay benefits in excess of the then current contributions, which reserve shall be30
established by the Commissioner in accordance with accepted actuarial principles on the31
basis of statistics regarding employment, business activity, and other relevant factors for32
the longest possible period.33
(e) Every Monday, the Commissioner shall submit to the Speaker of the House of34
Representatives, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the minority leader35
of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the majority leader of the36
Senate, and the minority leader of the Senate a report specifying for the week prior and for37
the calendar year to date as to claims for unemployment compensation benefits the number38
of:39
(1) Claims filed with the department;40
(2) Unpaid claims;41
(3) Claims at each stage of the process provided under this chapter for the filing,42
payment, and adjudication of such claims;43

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(4) Inquiries submitted by members of the General Assembly on behalf of their44
constituents who are experiencing issues with a claim for unemployment compensation45
benefits; and46
(5) Inquiries submitted by members of the General Assembly on behalf of their47
constituents whose issues have not been resolved.48
If the Monday report day is a state holiday, the report shall be submitted the first weekday49
that is not holiday that immediately follows such Monday.50
(e)(f) Whenever the Commissioner believes that a change in contribution or benefit rates51
will become necessary to protect the solvency of the fund, the Commissioner shall52
promptly so inform the Governor and the General Assembly and make recommendations53
with respect thereto.54
(f)(g) The Commissioner shall fully cooperate with the agencies of other states and shall55
make every proper effort to oppose and prevent any further action which would in the56
Commissioner's judgment tend to effect complete or substantial federalization of state57
unemployment compensation funds or state employment security programs. In addition,58
the Commissioner may make and may cooperate with other appropriate agencies in making59
studies as to the practicality and probable cost of possible new state administered social60
security programs and the relative desirability of state, rather than federal, action in any61
such field.62
(g)(h) The Commissioner is authorized to enter into such cooperative agreements or63
contracts with appropriate officials in other states or with