147-86.1. Pool account for local government unemployment compensation.

(a) The State Treasurer is authorized to establish a pool account, in accordance with rules of the Division of Employment Security (DES), in cooperation with any one or more units of local government, for the purpose of reimbursing the DES for unemployment benefits paid by the DES and chargeable to each local unit of government participating in the pool account. In the pool account established pursuant to this section, the funds contributed by a unit of local government shall remain the funds of the particular unit, and interest or other investment income earned by the pool account shall be prorated and credited to the various contributing local units on the basis of the amounts thereof contributed, figured according to an average periodic balance or some other sound accounting principle.

(b) The State Treasurer shall pay to the Division of Employment Security, within 25 days from receipt of a list thereof, all unemployment benefits charged by the DES to each unit of local government participating in the pool account from the funds in the pool account belonging to each such unit, to the extent that said funds are sufficient to do so.

(c) Notwithstanding the participation by a unit of local government in the pool account authorized by this section, such unit shall remain liable to the Division of Employment Security for any benefits duly charged by the Division to the unit which are not paid by the State Treasurer from funds in the pool account belonging to the unit. Notwithstanding its participation in the pool account, each unit of local government shall continue to maintain an individual account with the DES.

(d) The Director of the Budget shall be authorized to transfer from the interest earned on the pool account, to the State Treasurer's departmental budget, such funds as may be necessary to defray the Treasurer's cost of administering the pool account.