Bill Text: IL HJR0017 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directs the Illinois Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security's administration of the Unemployment Insurance Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 22-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-29 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Grant [HJR0017 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HJR0017-Introduced.html

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HJ0017 LRB102 15785 ECR 21152 r
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois, like every other
governmental unit across the country, is facing one of the
most challenging circumstances in recent history with the
Covid-19 crisis; facing these challenges, ranging from the
health and well-being of our most vulnerable residents to the
livelihoods of individuals, has proved incredibly difficult;
and
WHEREAS, Numerous State agencies have tried to handle the
challenge and, indeed, much great effort has been exerted;
however, the need and the demand continue to place an
incredible strain on our systems; and
WHEREAS, Nowhere, perhaps, has this been more the case
than at the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES);
and
WHEREAS, In addition to the tremendous cost of life taken
by this global pandemic, the economic effects on the State
have left many without a job, a career, and even a business;
and
WHEREAS, With the voluminous number of persons that have
become unemployed, there has been a previously unheard of rate

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of individuals seeking UI benefits; and
WHEREAS, Early on, this demand was met with grossly inept
deficiencies in our IDES systems that led to serious issues,
which contributed to various errors and delays; then, to
compound the problems, it was learned the voluminous number of
claims led to a series of data breaches and serious
disruptions to the claim-processing procedures; and
WHEREAS, IDES, facing these challenges, has taken steps to
repair the damage that was done and is working to bring new
protections; IDES has enter into partnerships with
third-parties and fellow State agencies to make sure these
same problems are avoided; yet, there remain unresolved
issues; and
WHEREAS, The issue of identity theft is a very serious and
damaging one that was identified by IDES; yet, there were
additional issues identified with regards to unemployment
insurance fraud; and
WHEREAS, The State has established an IDES Identity Theft
Line, has entered into contracts with outside firms to
investigate cases of fraud and identified theft, and continues
to assist impacted individuals; there needs to be a greater
effort made to protect workers and businesses from being

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negatively impacted by this fraudulent activity; and
WHEREAS, IDES is now faced with the task of helping those
individuals and businesses that were, are, or will be affected
by acts of identity theft and unemployment insurance fraud
stemming from pandemic-related claims; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, there continue to be reports of
individuals having difficulty applying for and receiving
unemployment insurance benefits, reports of rampant insurance
fraud, and failures at the Department level to account for,
flag, and otherwise contain cases of fraud in the unemployment
insurance benefit systems; and
WHEREAS, The various issues that have plagued IDES must be
completely identified, reviewed, and studied so as to
understand where there is a need for accountability on the
part of the Administration and for corrective measures to be
taken; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Auditor General is
directed to conduct a performance audit of the Illinois
Department of Employment Security's administration of the
Unemployment Insurance Act; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Employment
Security and any other State agency, entity, or person that
may have information relevant to this audit cooperate fully
and promptly with the Auditor General's office in its conduct;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as
soon as possible and, upon completion, distribute a report in
accordance with Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing
Act.