Bill > H1157

This bill, called the "Promoting Work, Deterring Fraud Act of 2025," enhances the verification and fraud prevention process for reemployment assistance (unemployment) benefits in Florida. The legislation expands the circumstances under which the Department of Commerce can disqualify claimants, such as failing to contact a required number of prospective employers per week, missing job interviews without notification, or refusing to return to work after a temporary layoff. The bill introduces stringent identity verification and eligibility checks, requiring the department to verify claimants' identities before paying benefits, cross-check claimant information with various databases (including the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program), and confirm that claimants are living, not incarcerated, and not already employed. Additionally, the department must investigate potentially fraudulent claims by examining shared addresses, bank accounts, contact information, and internet protocol addresses, and must maintain a web page for reporting suspected violations. The department is also mandated to publish an annual report detailing fraudulent claim statistics, including the number of identified fraudulent claims, amounts paid, and recovery efforts. These measures aim to reduce unemployment benefit fraud and ensure that benefits are distributed only to eligible individuals actively seeking employment.

Business and Industry, Housing and Urban Affairs

Commerce Committee (House), Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee (House)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1157