Governor Sisolak has signed Senate Bill 3 (SB3) into law, which he says will help the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) deliver unemployment benefits to families in need.

He said in a press conference on Thursday that it will help reduce the backlog and get benefits out the door to people who have been waiting a long time since filing.

SB3 (below) makes many changes to DETR's system. Some lawmakers say the bill is long overdue and that they should have passed legislation in the first special session, last month.

"I think it's a failure and a complete meltdown of governance," Sen. Scott Hammond, R-Las Vegas said. "This body owes Nevada families more than a check. We owe them an apology for the repeated failures to address their fears, their concerns, and their financial difficulties."

Among the upgrades, claimants can now send some documents to DETR, electronically.

Lawmakers say the bill could speed up the process and expand eligibility requirements. It would also allow DETR to make changes during emergency operations. The bill took some time to fine-tune to align it with the Department of Labor standards and to make sure it does not go beyond the intent of federal law.

The bill will allow the state to collect more federal money and extends the length of time people can collect their unemployment benefits. Some provisions are retroactive to February 28.

Gov. Sisolak also says the state will be creating a 'strike force' to help deliver long-awaited benefits and appointed Barbara Buckley to lead that team. 

Buckley said the task force plans on preparing a new dashboard for DETR's website to quantify the backlog, then report back on how much they were able to reduce it. She also mentioned identity fraud as a problem that has been holding up people's claims, and says the team will be working with law enforcement to deter false filings and enhance verification efforts.

"Our goal is to be transparent," Buckley said. "The focus is getting benefits out the door."

He also appointed Elisa Cafferata as Acting Director for DETR.

"Our commitment is to start getting through these cases," Cafferata said.

Gov. Sisolak said DETR has been paying out 90 percent of weekly claims and that DETR has paid $6.1 billion since July 30 across all unemployment insurance and CARES Act cases.

"Our current situation is not acceptable for those waiting," Gov. Sisolak said. "I want you to know I hear you, I'm listening and I'm taking action."

He said people who are victims of identity fraud should report it through DETR's website and also report it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at www.ic3.gov.

 

More: Unemployment Bill Heading To Governor's Office  

More: Nevada Unemployment Claims Up 18%, Initial PUA Claims Rise to 34,000 

More: DETR Gives Update on Ongoing Nevada Unemployment 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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