(A) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Department of Employment and Workforce integrity fund.

(B) The fund shall consist of monetary penalties collected pursuant to Section 41-41-45(C)(3) for the purpose of promoting unemployment compensation integrity. The Department of Employment and Workforce integrity fund shall be used for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the unemployment compensation fund. These efforts may include, but are not limited to, identifying overpayments, verifying eligibility, determining status, and updating technology and educational tools to support integrity activities.

(C) All money collected in the integrity fund must be deposited, administered, and disbursed in the same manner and under the same conditions and requirements as are provided by law for other special funds in the State Treasury, except that money in this fund must not be commingled with other state funds, but must be maintained in a separate account on the books of a depository bank. These funds must be secured by the bank by securities or surety bonds as required by law of depositories of state funds.

(D) All money that is deposited or paid into the fund is appropriated and made available to the department. All money in this fund must be expended solely for the purpose of promoting unemployment insurance integrity efforts by the department as provided in Section 41-41-45.

(E) All balances in this fund must not lapse at any time but must be continuously available to the department by expenditure consistent with Chapters 27 through 41 of this title. The department shall issue its requisition, which must be approved by the executive director or any designated officer, agent, or other individual for payment of the costs of interest to the Comptroller General who shall draw his warrant in the usual form provided by law on the State Treasurer, who shall pay it by check on the integrity fund.

HISTORY: 2013 Act No. 53, Section 4.A, eff October 1, 2013.