Capitol News

This week, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce expressed its opposition to a proposed bill that would prevent the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) from collecting unemployment insurance benefits that were improperly paid due to clerical or administrative errors after three years.

The Chamber stated that while Senate Bill 700 is designed to protect claimants from unexpected bills, it could have negative consequences for the state's unemployment insurance trust fund. "While SB 700 is intended to protect claimants from unexpected bills, it undermines the integrity and solvency of the state’s 100% employer-financed UI trust fund and exposes the system to increased risk of fraud, waste and abuse," according to a statement released by the organization.

The Chamber and other business groups have submitted a memo outlining their concerns to the Senate Labor Committee, which is currently reviewing the bill.