Senate Bill No. 1312 seeks to implement recommendations from the Labor Department by amending existing laws related to unemployment benefits and occupational disease reporting. The bill reduces the timeframe for employers to protest unemployment benefits charges from sixty days to forty days, thereby expediting the process. Additionally, it establishes the Unemployed Workers' Advocate as a full-time position within the classified service, rather than one appointed at the discretion of the Labor Commissioner, which aims to improve the effectiveness of the Office of the Unemployed Workers' Advocate.

Moreover, the bill introduces a requirement for physicians and advanced practice registered nurses to report suspected occupational diseases to the Labor Department within forty-eight hours of discovery, with a civil penalty of up to ten dollars for non-compliance. The report will not be admissible in court for civil actions or workers' compensation claims, and the Labor Commissioner will have the authority to investigate and recommend preventive measures. The effective date for the changes regarding employer protests and the advocate position is set for October 1, 2025, while the reporting requirements and technical corrections will take effect immediately upon passage.