Bill Description: House Bill 168 would require the Department of Labor to perform routine cross-checks on people seeking or receiving unemployment. 

Rating: +1

Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt?

House Bill 168 would create Section 72-1383, Idaho Code, to "enhance program integrity for the state's unemployment insurance program." 

The bill would require the Department of Labor to "perform routine cross-matches, review eligibility of suspicious claims, implement identity protection protocols, recover overpayments, and report the results of such activities to the legislature."

Among other things, the department would be required to engage with and utilize "the integrity data hub operated by the national association of state workforce agencies" and cross-check the unemployment insurance rolls against the "national directory of new hires," "the state directory of new hires," "the department of correction's list of incarcerated individuals," and "the most recent state death records list available to the department."

The department would also be required to "verify a claimant's identity" and "perform a full eligibility review of suspicious or potentially improper claims."

There is no guarantee that such a program would have a net financial benefit to taxpayers, once expenses are accounted for. But that might happen, and the effort can be justified on the grounds that it would likely improve the rigor and integrity of the program. 

(+1)