MADISON – Senator Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) released the following statement after Governor Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 146, a bill that gives employers a few more days to respond to the state’s requests for information about new UI claims.
“Improper payments cause unnecessary paperwork for both the state and employer and create a sense that the system is unfair among the hard-working staff that show up to work every day and keep a business running,” Hutton said. “This bill wasn’t a silver bullet, but it was a needed step in the right direction.”
Employers currently have seven days to respond to requests for information from the Department of Workforce Development regarding a new claim for Unemployment benefits. Those requests help DWD determine eligibility and give an employer the chance to provide necessary facts about a separation from employment.
However, employers frequently report that those letters arrive too late to respond, or even after the deadline, because of Postal Service delays. AB 146 simply extended the period employers have to respond from seven days to twelve business days.
This bill acknowledged the reality of growing Post Office delays by giving employers a few more days to reply to the government when they ask for details about a new UI claim as part of determining whether the circumstances of someone’s claim make them eligible for the payments.
“It’s a sensible reaction to concerns we all hear from local employers who get tied up in appeals paperwork and must bear the added costs of providing benefits to people who get fired for cause or simply stop coming to work,” Hutton said.
“It’s unfortunate that Governor Evers chose the status quo even after other Democrats acknowledged this is a real issue,” Hutton said.
