Relating to the eligibility of certain individuals for unemployment benefits and the validity of certain claims for unemployment benefits submitted to the Texas Workforce Commission.
What changed between versions
Added new subsections requiring the commission to establish a statistically valid methodology for assessing fraud risk and conduct annual audits of that methodology.
Added new Section 208.0211 requiring cross-checking of claims against additional federal and state databases including child support enforcement directories.
Modified identity verification requirements to mandate use of government-issued identification for claims flagged as high fraud risk.
Modified work search activity requirements to specify a minimum of five activities per week and clarified application submission rules.
Added Section 5 to increase fraud penalties from a 15% penalty on forfeited benefits to forfeiture of all remaining benefits in the benefit year plus a 15% penalty.
Modified fraud penalty provisions to extend the disqualification period to five calendar years following the last day of the benefit year where fraud occurred.
Updated bill formatting and sponsor information from introduced version to engrossed version.
