Bill > HB2068

This bill modifies the employment security program by introducing several key changes to unemployment benefits eligibility and administrative procedures. The legislation amends existing rules about disqualifying unemployment claims, expanding conditions under which benefits can be denied, such as when a temporary employee fails to contact their temporary help firm for reassignment. The bill also introduces the "Employment Security Program Integrity Act of 2026", which requires the Division of Employment Security to implement more rigorous verification and fraud prevention measures. These include weekly checks against incarceration records, death records, and new-hire records, as well as verifying claimant identities through multi-factor authentication. The division must also review suspicious claims, such as those originating from the same internet protocol address or with duplicative characteristics. Additionally, the bill mandates that welfare agencies notify the division when an enrolled individual becomes employed, and requires the division to prioritize recovery of fraudulent or improper unemployment benefit overpayments. The legislation aims to improve program integrity by establishing more comprehensive eligibility verification processes and creating accountability through annual reporting to the general assembly about improper payment recovery efforts.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2068&year=2026&code=R