Lawmakers to tackle Florida’s flawed unemployment website. Oh, really!! LOL
TALLAHASSEE -- — Frustrated by problems plaguing Florida’s $63 million unemployment website, state lawmakers this week said they are set to take action to rescue a system that many claimants can no longer depend on for money to pay rent, food and bills.
Possible legislative remedies include overturning a controversial 2011 law that requires unemployed people to apply online for benefits. The law was flagged last year by the U.S. Department of Labor for making it more difficult for those without computer access. October’s troubled launch of CONNECT has made the law even more problematic.
“We made the rules that you have to do it online,” said Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, who chairs an appropriations committee that oversees CONNECT. “Now that’s not working right and people don’t have a viable Plan B. We have to come up with a solution. And that might be giving people a chance to file some other way, even if it includes paper.”
Next week, lawmakers will shine the spotlight on the agency that oversees the website, the Department of Economic Opportunity. Executive director Jesse Panuccio will testify before the Senate’s transportation, tourism and economic development appropriations committee on Wednesday.
“This has been talked about quite a bit and board members want to know what’s going on,” said the committee’s chairman, Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.
CONNECT replaced a payment system for about 235,000 claimants that was more than 30 years old and in disrepair. The new website was intended to improve service, but glitches since its mid October launch have prevented thousands from collecting weekly benefits. As the problems persist, lawmakers catch flak from constituents.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/12/3863535/unemployment-website-draws-state.html#storylink=cpy
