Senate Bill No. 1312, also known as Public Act No. 25-117, aims to enhance the administration of unemployment benefits and occupational disease reporting as recommended by the Labor Department. Key changes include reducing the time frame for employers to file a written protest regarding improperly charged benefits from sixty days to forty days. The bill establishes the position of an Unemployed Workers' Advocate as a full-time classified employee, responsible for managing the Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate, rather than serving at the discretion of the Labor Commissioner. Additionally, healthcare professionals are now required to report suspected occupational diseases related to specific hazardous exposures to the Labor Department within forty-eight hours, with non-compliance potentially resulting in civil penalties.

The bill also modifies employer chargeability for unemployment benefits, ensuring that no base period employer's account will be charged for benefits paid to claimants discharged or suspended due to the loss of their operator license from a drug or alcohol test while off duty. Furthermore, it specifies that employers will not be charged for benefits paid to claimants separated from employment due to the return of an individual on a bona fide leave of absence. Notably, the bill deletes a previous provision that exempted base period employers from being charged for benefits paid through the voluntary shared work unemployment compensation program based on certain unemployment rate thresholds, removing the Labor Commissioner's discretion in this matter. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.