Bill tightens restrictions on unemployment benefits

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(The Center Square) – Eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits would be tightened under a bill passed by the Florida House.

House Bill 191, which cleared the chamber in an 81-31 vote, has a companion bill in the Senate that has passed the necessary committees and is ready for a floor vote.

The measure would disqualify people from receiving benefits if they fail to contact five potential employers each week, fail to appear for a job interview three or more times without notice or refuse to accept “suitable work.”

It also requires the Department of Commerce to verify a claimant’s eligibility by verifying their identity, cross-check their information in the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program and ensure the claimant is living, not incarcerated and doesn’t already have employment.

The maximum amount of reemployment assistance available to Florida recipients is $275 a week for 12 weeks.

Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs, who introduced the bill, said its primary goal is to prevent fraud.

“As a business owner we experienced this probably three or four years ago where we had folks who would ghost on interviews or would not show up even after we would offer them a job,” said Abbott.

Democrats said the bill would create unnecessary barriers to access the unemployment system and that claims of fraud are unverified.

Two amendments offered by Rep. Angela Nixon, D-Jacksonville, failed. She said the bill was harmful, especially to people who have children and struggle with access to childcare.

“I don’t understand why we’re doing this, especially when employers pay into the unemployment coffers and especially when these folks are basically owed this when they get let go. These restrictions and having to jump through hurdles just to get $275 a week is really cruel,” said Nixon.

If passed and signed into law, the bill goes into effect in July.