27-3-602. Powers and duties of unemployment insurance commission; personnel.

(a) The commission shall:

(i) Adopt rules necessary for the administration of this act by the department of workforce services and the department, in accordance with law, may make expenditures, require reports, make investigations and take other action it considers necessary;

(ii) Determine its methods of procedure in accordance with this act;

(iii) Repealed by Laws 1990, ch. 63, § 3.

(iv) Through the department, and if possible, provide a reserve against fund liability for future benefit payments in excess of contributions in accordance with accepted actuarial principles based on employment, business activity and other relevant factors;

(v) Through the department, recommend to the governor and the legislature a change in contribution or benefit rates when necessary to protect fund solvency;

(vi) Define and prescribe by regulation necessary procedures for total unemployment and part total unemployment;

(vii) Through the department, publish provisions of this act, rules and regulations, reports and other relevant material and furnish copies in accordance with W.S. 16-4-204 to any person upon application.

(b) The commission may adopt, amend or rescind rules and regulations after notice and public hearing in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act.

(c) In administering this act, the commission or any authorized representative of the department may administer oaths and affirmations, take depositions, certify official acts, subpoena witnesses and require the production of books, papers or other records material to the administration of this act.

(d) If a subpoena issued to any person pursuant to subsection (c) of this section is disobeyed, the district court of the district in which the inquiry is conducted or the person is found, resides or conducts business shall, upon application by the commission or department, issue to the person refusing to obey the subpoena an order requiring the person to appear before the commission or department to produce evidence if ordered or to give evidence touching the matter in question. Any person failing to obey the court order may be punished by the court for contempt and upon conviction, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00), imprisoned not more than sixty (60) days, or both. Each day of violation is a separate offense.

(e) The privilege of self-incrimination is not a defense for violating subsection (c) of this section nor shall a person be incriminated for providing testimony or evidence under subsection (c) of this section except for perjury committed during testimony.

(f) The department of workforce services shall provide personnel necessary to administer this act in accordance with rules of the commission and determinations of the commission authorized by law. The commission shall not exercise supervisory authority over those personnel.