Bill > HB6312

This bill amends the Michigan Employment Security Act—the state law governing unemployment benefits—to require the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), which is the state body that manages and pays out unemployment benefits to eligible workers, to digitally store a claimant's original benefit application and any related certifications for at least seven years along with a precise time stamp of when they were received. Under this legislation, the UIA must provide secure access to these digital records, adhering to state data security and encryption standards, for claimants, their authorized representatives, the auditor general (the official who audits state government operations), or state legislators when needed for administrative hearings, appeals, official audits, or legislative oversight. Additionally, the bill mandates that the UIA conduct an annual audit of this digital retention system and submit the results to legislative leaders, and establishes a penalty of a $5,000 monthly fine payable to the state's general fund if the agency fails to comply with these requirements.