The Sconi

The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a series of unemployment insurance reform bills aimed at tackling worker shortages by focusing on fraudulent claims and the abuse of unemployment benefits. The legislative package was approved with a vote of 53-42 and will now be considered by the Senate.

Bill G. Smith, State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), praised the Assembly members for their decision. He testified before the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development, Labor and Integrated Employment, stating, “The unemployment insurance program is not a welfare program. It is a program designed with the intent to provide temporary financial assistance to those individuals who lose their job through no fault of their own.”

The reform package comprises several key bills. Assembly Bill 162 proposes the development of a system to collect and track workforce data. Assembly Bill 167 aims to update the work search requirements and modify the misconduct statutes necessary to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits.

Assembly Bill 168 suggests the establishment of a call center to help claimants and employers with unemployment insurance questions. This bill also plans to revise administrative procedures for better fraud detection and set up education and training programs for employers, employees, and claimants.

Assembly Bill 169 seeks to reduce or eliminate benefits for individuals who do not attend job interviews or fail to report to work after being hired. These measures are part of a broader initiative to ensure that unemployment insurance supports those who are genuinely in need.

The bills have been forwarded to the Senate, where further discussion and potential passing into law will occur.