Unemployment insurance: Unemployment Insurance Oversight Advisory Board.

Existing law authorizes the Employment Development Department to administer the state unemployment and disability compensation programs. Existing law requires the department, among other duties, to make unemployment and disability compensation payments, as prescribed. This bill would establish the Unemployment Insurance Oversight Advisory Board (board) in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency as an advisory body to review the operations of the Employment Development Department (department) under the state unemployment and disability compensation programs and make recommendations to the department, the Governor, and the Legislature to, among other things, enhance the efficiency of those operations and ensure equitable access to benefits administered by the department. The bill would require the board to consist of 7 members, as specified, who serve without compensation, but would require members to be reimbursed for their necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in performing their duties and responsibilities, upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would require, beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the board to hold at least 2 public meetings a year, during which the board members would be required to accept public comment. The bill would also require, beginning on and after July 1, 2022, the board to issue biannual public reports with its recommendations. The bill would require the department to submit a yearly report to the Assembly Committee on Budget and the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review regarding the recommendations of the board for state disability insurance and paid family leave benefits, as provided.