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AB-337 Unemployment compensation benefits: application processing timeframes: public information.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 01/30/2023 09:00 PM
AB337:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 337


Introduced by Assembly Member Jim Patterson

January 30, 2023


An act to add Section 338 to the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to unemployment.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 337, as introduced, Jim Patterson. Unemployment compensation benefits: application processing timeframes: public information.
Existing law establishes the Employment Development Department and vests the department with various duties. Existing law establishes the Director of Employment Development as the executive officer of the department. Existing law provides for the payment of unemployment compensation benefits to eligible persons who are unemployed through no fault of their own through a federal-state unemployment insurance program administered by the department. Existing law requires the department to make various types of information available on its internet website, including information about overpayments and information for victims of identity theft who receive incorrect tax forms.
This bill would require the director, beginning on July 1, 2024, to make certain information about timeframes for processing unemployment compensation benefit applications available on the department’s internet website, including the current average timeframe for issuing a first payment when the department does not request additional or clarifying information, and for making a final determination of eligibility for benefits, as specified. The bill would also require the director to update the required information every 2 weeks and to display on the department’s internet website graphical representations of certain data. The bill would further require the director to provide the web address where this information may be found to claimants, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 338 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:

338.
 (a) Beginning on July 1, 2024, the director shall make all of the following publicly available on the department’s internet website:
(1) The current average timeframe for each of the following, measured from the date an applicant submits their initial application for benefits:
(A) Issuing a first payment when the department does not request additional or clarifying information.
(B) Requesting an interview with an applicant to clarify information or obtain additional information.
(C) Disqualifying a claimant.
(2) The current average timeframe for completing interviews to clarify information or obtain additional information, measured from the date that the applicant is informed the department requires additional or clarifying information.
(3) The current average timeframe for making a final determination of eligibility for benefits after receipt of clarifying or additional information requested from a claimant.
(b) The director shall update the information required by subdivision (a) every two weeks and shall display on the department’s internet website graphical representations of the most recent six months of data for each of the metrics required by subdivision (a) to be made publicly available.
(c) The director shall include both of the following on the Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed provided to a claimant:
(1) The web address where the claimant can find the information required by subdivision (a).
(2) A description of the types of information required by subdivision (a) located at that web address.