Bill > HB5002

This bill amends the Michigan Employment Security Act to improve communication and transparency in unemployment insurance processes. The bill requires the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) to use plain language in all communications and documents, defined as language that is clear, concise, avoids complex vocabulary, and is based on a fourth-grade reading level. The bill mandates that the UIA provide a secure internet site for employers to verify receipt of their correspondence and requires the agency to post confirmation of receipt of protests or appeals within 10 days. Additionally, the bill stipulates that all determinations and redeterminations provided to claimants or employers must include clear, factual reasons specific to the claim, a summary of appeal and reconsideration rights, and a comprehensive list of related determinations with their outcomes and important dates. The legislation also requires the UIA to consolidate all related determinations and redeterminations into single documents and ensure that notifications about benefit denials, modifications, or cessations include specific facts supporting the decision, the legal reasoning, and applicable appeal rights. The underlying purpose of the bill is to make unemployment insurance communications more transparent, understandable, and accessible to both employers and claimants.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-5002