LANSING – Persons seeking unemployment benefits would be rejected if a prospective employer withdrew a job offer because they failed a drug test required as a condition of employment, or refused to take the test, under a bill signed Tuesday by Governor Rick Snyder.
HB 4952 (PA 146, immediate effect) drew criticism from some Democrats who said it imposes an unfair double-standard for the unemployed while others benefitting from public money, like legislators, do not have to take a drug test. Supporters, however, called the move common sense.
Mr. Snyder also signed several other bills, these non-controversial, making changes to the unemployment system he said are mandated under federal law.
The changes include:
Requiring cancellation of benefits as of the date a claimant intentionally made a false statement, misrepresentation or concealed material information, instead of when the Unemployment Insurance Agency receives notice of that activity (HB 4949 , PA 147, immediate effect);
Mandating benefits be charged to an employer’s account if the employer had a pattern of failing to respond with timely or adequate information, as requested or required by the UIA, and benefits were paid due to that failure (HB 4950 , PA 142, immediate effect);
Changing the allocation of monies recovered by the UIA in cases of willful violations (HB 4951 , PA 153, immediate effect);
Altering some technical aspects of UIA investigations (HB 4953 , PA 144, immediate effect); and
Making changes to the Unemployment Compensation Fund to allow for other aspects of the legislation (HB 4954 , PA 155, immediate effect).
“These are necessary updates to make sure Michigan is in line with federal requirements,” Mr. Snyder said in a statement. “They will also help strengthen the unemployment insurance system by reducing fraud.”
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