SECTION 83 - R60-DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT

AND WORKFORCE

     83.1.     (DEW: SCOICC User Fee Carry Forward)  All user fees collected by the South Carolina Occupational Information Coordinating Committee through theDepartment of Employment and Workforce may be retained by the SCOICC to be used for the exclusive purpose of operating the South Carolina Occupational Information System.  All user fees not expended in the prior fiscal year may be carried forward for use in the current fiscal year.

     83.2.     (DEW: Consortium Contracts: Training-Development Sessions and Media Services)  All earmarked funds collected for the LMI - Training-Development Sessions; Media Services and Program Contracts through theDepartment of Employment and Workforce may be retained by the agency to be used for the exclusive purpose of operating these programs.  All funds not expended in the prior fiscal year may be carried forward for use in the current fiscal year.

     83.3.     (DEW: Federal and Earmarked Prior Year Payments)  TheDepartment of Employment and Workforce shall be allowed to pay federal and earmarked prior year obligations with current year funds.

     83.4.     (DEW: Transparency of Funding Appropriation)  In order to promote accountability and transparency, the Department of Employment and Workforce must provide and release to the public via the agency’s website, a report of all aggregate amounts of taxes, fees and payments that were charged, collected and paid by that state agency in the prior fiscal year.  For the purpose of efficiency and conservation of resources, this report shall be incorporated into the Trust Fund Report due by October first as required by Section 41-33-45 of the 1976 Code.  In addition to the requirements of Section 41-33-45, the Trust Fund Reportshall include, but not be limited to:  (1) SUTA taxes collected per Tier; (2) unemployment benefit claims paid; (3) how many unemployment claims were made in error; (4) loan repayments made to the federal government; and (5) the amount of funds left in the agency’s account at the end of the fiscal year.  The report must be posted online byOctober first of the current fiscal year.  Additionally, the report must be delivered to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee byOctober first.  Funds appropriated to and/or authorized for use by the department shall be used to accomplish this directive.

     83.5.     (DEW: SUTA Contingency Assessment Funds)  Thirty percent of the funds appropriated through the contingency assessment funds collected on taxable wages paid by employers shall be spent on enforcement of Section 41-35-110(3) and Section 41-35-120(5) of the 1976 Code, via Eligibility Reviews, Random Verification of Job Contacts and Wage Cross Matches during those weeks covered by the South Carolina State Unemployment Tax Authority (SUTA), and to ensure seated meetings with Unemployment Insurance claimants and requiring that one of the four job search contacts required per week be conducted through SC Works Online System (SCWOS), so that it can be electronically verified.  The agency must also inform claimants in advance that Eligibility Reviews and Random Verification of Job Contacts will be used by the department to verify compliance with laws administered by the agency.

     83.6.     (DEW: Negotiation of Interest)  By October 1, 2015, the Department of Employment and Workforce must develop and implement a plan to seek a waiver of interest on the state’s FUA loan debt in order to mitigate the impact of the interest payments on South Carolina employers.  For the current fiscal year and upon final repayment of all Title XII advances from the Federal Unemployment Account received by the state beginning in December of 2008, any funds remaining in the Department of Employment and Workforce Interest Assessment Fund authorized by Section 41-33-810 of the 1976 Code shall be transferred to the Unemployment Compensation Fund.

     83.7.     DELETED

     83.8.     (DEW: UI Tax System Modernization)  The Department of Employment and Workforce is authorized to expend up to $300,000 of funds made available to the State under Section 903 of the United States Social Security Act, as amended.  The funds must be used under the direction of the Department of Employment and Workforce, for the purpose of acquiring software, equipment, and necessary services to replace the agency’s unemployment tax information system with a modern technology solution.  No part of the funds herein authorized may be obligated after a two-year period beginning on July 1, 2015.  The amount obligated pursuant to this provision shall not at any time exceed the amount by which (a) the aggregate of amounts transferred to the accounts of the State pursuant to Section 903 of the Social Security Act exceeds (b) the aggregate of the amounts obligated for administration and paid out for administration and paid out for benefits and required by law to be charged against the amounts transferred to the account of this State.

     83.9.     DELETED