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 provisions include reducing the timeframe for employers to file written protests 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 service employee, who will oversee the Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate and have the authority to appoint staff. Additionally, healthcare professionals are now required to report suspected occupational diseases 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 certain circumstances, such as discharges related to the loss of an operator license due to drug or alcohol tests while off duty, do not negatively impact employer accounts. It clarifies that reports of occupational diseases and related investigations are not admissible in civil actions or workers' compensation claims, while allowing information sharing with the Department of Public Health for disease surveillance. Notably, the bill deletes a previous provision that exempted employer accounts from being charged for benefits paid through the voluntary shared work unemployment compensation program based on specific unemployment rate thresholds, thus removing the Labor Commissioner's discretion in this regard. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.