Senate Bill 196 proposes various amendments to Wisconsin's unemployment insurance (UI) law, primarily focusing on the responsibilities of claimants and employers in the job search process. The bill mandates that employers report to the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) when a claimant declines job interviews or offers, fails to respond to them, or is unavailable for work. It establishes that a claimant will be deemed ineligible for benefits if they do not conduct a reasonable job search, which now requires weekly verification of job offers and interviews. Additionally, the bill allows for the dismissal of reports regarding missed interviews if the claimant can demonstrate they attempted to reschedule.

The bill also makes significant changes regarding the recovery of overpayments, making it mandatory for DWD to recover overpayments in cases of misrepresentation. It requires DWD to include information about employer reports in its annual fraud report to the legislature and mandates the department to maintain methods for addressing situations where claimants fail to return to work or accept suitable work without good cause. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the integrity of the UI system by tightening eligibility requirements and improving reporting mechanisms for both employers and claimants.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 108.04(2)(a)3, 108.04, 108.04(2)(bm), 108.04(2)(g)2, 108.04(11)(cm), 108.14(21), 108.14, 108.22(8)(a), 108.22