SB 140

Under current law, if a claimant for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits

conceals any material fact relating to his or her eligibility for benefits or conceals any

of his or her wages or hours worked (act of concealment), the claimant is ineligible

for benefits in an amount ranging from to two to eight times the claimant's weekly

benefit rate, depending on the number of acts of concealment committed, for each

single act of concealment, and is liable for an additional penalty. This bill provides

that, in addition to being ineligible for benefits and liable for penalties, a claimant

who commits an act of concealment is ineligible for UI benefits for a period of seven

years if he or she commits another act of concealment with respect to a subsequent

benefit year.

In addition, under current law, if any person makes a false statement or

representation in order to obtain UI benefits in the name of another person (act of

impersonation), the person may be required to repay the amount of benefits obtained

and also pay an administrative assessment. This bill provides that, in addition to

being required to repay those UI benefits and pay an administrative assessment, an

individual who commits an act of impersonation is ineligible for UI benefits for a

period of seven years if the individual commits another, distinct act of impersonation.