Assembly Bill 168 introduces several significant changes to Wisconsin's unemployment insurance (UI) law, primarily aimed at enhancing fraud detection and improving claimant support. The bill mandates the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to implement identity-proofing measures for claimants, ensuring they verify their identity before filing claims and during other transactions. Additionally, it establishes a new statute of limitations for prosecuting felonies related to fraud in obtaining UI benefits, extending the time frame from six to eight years for such cases. The bill also requires DWD to provide comprehensive training materials for employers and claimants, including training videos and live seminars, to better inform them about the UI system.

Furthermore, the bill mandates DWD to operate a call center to assist claimants, with specific operational hours based on call volume and declared states of emergency. It also requires DWD to conduct weekly comparisons of UI benefit recipients against various national databases to detect fraud or erroneous payments. If DWD suspends or reduces any fraud detection methods, it must notify relevant authorities, including the Council on Unemployment Insurance and the legislature. Overall, these changes aim to strengthen the integrity of the unemployment insurance program while providing better support to claimants and employers.