SB 542

Current law establishes penalties for certain violations under the

unemployment insurance (UI) law, including for knowingly making a false

statement or representation to obtain any UI benefit payment, for which the penalty

is a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than

90 days, or both. Current law provides that each such false statement or

representation constitutes a separate offense.

This bill instead provides that a person who knowingly makes a false statement

or representation to obtain any UI benefit payment: 1) if the value of any benefits

obtained does not exceed $2,500, is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or

imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both; 2) if the value of any benefits obtained

exceeds $2,500 but does not exceed $5,000, is guilty of a Class I felony; 3) if the value

of any benefits obtained exceeds $5,000 but does not exceed $10,000, is guilty of a

Class H felony; or 4) if the value of any benefits obtained exceeds $10,000, is guilty

of a Class G felony. The bill provides that multiple violations may be prosecuted as

a single crime.