K.S.A. 44-772 Unemployment Insurance Program Information Technology System; Development; Utilization of Technology and Features; Deadline; Inclusion of Components, Features and Program Integrity Elements Specified and Defined By Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council; Certain Duties of Secretary; Continuing Implementation of New Program Integrity Elements; Use of Cross-Check Programs; Memorandums of Understanding; Rules and Regulations; Annual Report

• Library: Kansas Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through 2023 Session Acts Chapter 108
• Year: 2023
• Citation: K.S.A. 44-772

(a) It is the intent of the legislature that, in order to accomplish the mission of collecting state employment security taxes, processing unemployment insurance benefit claims and paying benefits, the department of labor's information technology system shall be continually developed, customized, enhanced and upgraded. The purpose of this section is to ensure the state's unemployment insurance program is utilizing current technology and features to protect the sensitive data required in the unemployment insurance benefit and tax systems relating to program integrity, system efficiency and customer service experience.

(b) The legislature finds that, as a result of the vulnerabilities exposed in the legacy unemployment insurance system by the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance crisis, a new system shall be fully designed, implemented and administered by the department of labor not later than December 31, 2022. The legislative coordinating council, upon consultation with the unemployment compensation modernization and improvement council established by K.S.A. 44-771, and amendments thereto, may extend the deadline to a date certain and may further extend the deadline to another date certain at any time.

(c) The information technology system, technology and platform shall include, but not be limited to, any components as specified and defined by the unemployment compensation modernization and improvement council established by K.S.A. 44-771, and amendments thereto, in consultation with the secretary.

(d) The new system shall include, but not be limited to, any features and benefits as specified and defined by the unemployment compensation modernization and improvement council established by K.S.A. 44-771, and amendments thereto, in consultation with the secretary.

(e) The secretary shall implement and utilize all program integrity elements, as specified and defined by the unemployment compensation modernization and improvement council established by K.S.A. 44-771, and amendments thereto, in consultation with the secretary, including, but not limited to:

(1) Social security administration cross-matching for the purpose of validating social security numbers supplied by a claimant;

(2) checking of new hire records against the national directorate of new hires to verify eligibility;

(3) verification of immigration status or citizenship and confirmation of benefit applicant information through the systematic alien verification for entitlement program;