Unemployment insurance: use of information.

Under existing law, the information obtained in the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Code is for the exclusive use and information of the Director of Employment Development in the discharge of his or her duties and is not open to the public. However, existing law permits the use of the information for specified purposes, and allows the director to require reimbursement for direct costs incurred. Existing law provides that a person who knowingly accesses, uses, or discloses this confidential information without authorization is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would require the Director of Employment Development to permit the use of any information in his or her possession to provide any peace officer with the Investigations Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles information when the requesting peace officer has been designated by the Chief of Investigations Division and requests this information in the course of an investigation into identity theft, counterfeiting, document fraud, or consumer fraud, as provided. By requiring this information to be provided to peace officers with the Investigations Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles for these purposes, this bill would expand the crime of unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of this information, and would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.