Chapter 0185 - 522R - S Ver of HB2222

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 23-672, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-672. Appeals board

A. Within the department, an appeals board is established consisting of four three members. The director shall appoint the members of the appeals board and shall designate one member to serve as chairman.

B. Hearings conducted by or at the direction of the appeals board shall be conducted as provided by section 23‑674 and other provisions of this chapter. The department shall prescribe by rule the procedures for petitioning for review, removal of cases to the board and appeals under section 23‑673. An interested party may file either a written or electronic petition for review. On the filing of a petition for review, the department shall prepare a complete record unless the parties stipulate otherwise.

C. In any case in which a petition for review of an appeal tribunal or hearing officer decision has been filed by an interested party, the appeals board may remand the case to any appeal tribunal or hearing officer for further proceedings or may review the matter on the basis of the record in the case, take additional evidence or rehear the matter and affirm, reverse, modify or set aside the decision of the appeal tribunal or hearing officer. On notice to the interested parties, a petition for review may be reviewed by one member of the appeals board designated by the chairman. If an interested party objects to review by one board member, the matter shall be heard by three members of the appeals board.

D. Unless a petition for hearing or review of a department determination made under article 5 of this chapter is withdrawn, the appeals board after affording the parties reasonable opportunity for a fair hearing shall issue its decision.

E. Every decision of the appeals board shall be in writing. If the decision is issued by three at least two concurring members of the appeals board, and the appeals board is not unanimous, the decision of the majority shall control. The minority may file a dissent from the decision, setting forth the reasons for the dissent. All interested parties shall be promptly notified of the decision and the reasons for the decision. Notice to the parties of the decision shall be accompanied by instructions explaining the procedure for requesting review as described in subsection F of this section and clearly indicating the final date for filing a request for review pursuant to section 41-1993.

F. A party dissatisfied with the decision under subsection E of this section may file a request for review within thirty days from the date of the decision, which shall be a written or electronic request and memorandum stating the reasons why the appeals board's decision is in error and containing appropriate citations of the record, rules and other authority. On motion, and for good cause, the appeals board may extend the time for filing a request for review. The timely filing of such a request for review is a prerequisite to any further appeal. The appeals board shall notify all parties of the filing of a request for review and shall allow fifteen days from the date of the notice for any party to respond. Thereafter, the appeals board shall issue a decision on review affirming, modifying or reversing its decision, or ordering the taking of additional testimony. All parties shall be given written notice by mail of the decision on review.END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 23-724, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-724. Liability determinations; review; finality

A. When if the department makes a determination, which determination shall be made either on the motion of the department or on application of an employing unit, that an employing unit constitutes an employer as defined in section 23‑613 or that services performed for or in connection with the business of an employing unit constitute employment as defined in section 23‑615 that is not exempt under section 23‑617 or that remuneration for services constitutes wages as defined in section 23‑622, the determination shall become final with respect to the employing unit sixty days after written notice is served personally, by electronic transmission or by certified mail if the determination was made on the basis of section 23‑613.01, or by first class mail if the determination was made by any other basis, addressed to the last known address of the employing unit, unless within such time the employing unit files a written request for reconsideration.

B. When If a request for reconsideration is filed as prescribed in subsection A of this section, a reconsidered determination shall be made. The reconsidered determination shall become final with respect to the employing unit thirty days after written notice of the reconsidered determination is served personally, by electronic transmission or by mail addressed to the last known address of the employing unit, unless within such time the employing unit files with the appeals board a written petition for hearing or review. The department may for good cause extend the period within which the written petition is to be submitted. If the reconsidered determination is appealed to the appeals board and the decision by the appeals board is that the employing unit is liable, the employing unit shall submit all required contribution and wage reports to the department within forty‑five days after the decision by the appeals board.

C. On an employer's written request and the submission of pertinent information to the department, the department shall, or on its own motion may, consider whether a determination, reconsidered determination or decision which that has become final should be revised. Revision shall be granted if either:

1. There has been a substantial and material change in the facts on which the determination, reconsidered determination or decision relied.

2. There has been a change in the law or interpretation of the law which that warrants a revised determination, reconsidered determination or decision.

D. The effective date of a revision under subsection C of this section is either:

1. The date on which the change occurred if the employer's request with the pertinent information is filed no later than the last day of the month immediately subsequent to the calendar quarter in which the change occurred.

2. The first day of the calendar quarter in which the employer files the request and submits the pertinent information unless the employer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that good cause exists for the failure to notify the department within the period prescribed by paragraph 1 of this subsection of the occurrence of the change warranting the revision. In the event such that good cause is demonstrated, the effective date shall be the date of the change.

E. A refusal to grant relief under subsection C of this section may not be appealed unless within thirty days the employer appeals the refusal to the appeals board. The employer's appeal shall be filed either electronically or in writing. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and pursuant to such an the appeal, the appeals board may initiate hearings to obtain information and issue a decision as to whether the relief requested in subsection C of this section should be granted. Thereafter, the appeals board shall issue a decision in the matter. The decision of the appeals board may not be appealed with respect to the employing unit unless petition for review and a request for judicial review are is filed within the time and in the manner provided in section 23‑672 41-1993.

F. The determination of the department or decision of the appeals board, together with the record, shall be admissible in any subsequent judicial proceeding involving liability for contributions. A determination or decision that an employing unit is liable that has become final shall be conclusive and binding on the employing unit and shall not be reconsidered in proceedings brought before the department or a hearing officer.

G. Any determination issued on the basis of section 23‑613.01 pursuant to subsection A of this section and any reconsidered determination issued pursuant to subsection B of this section and any contribution rate redetermination or denial issued pursuant to section 23‑732, subsection A shall contain the following:

1. The facts considered and the facts relied on in making the determination.

2. The specific statutes, regulations or other authority relied on in making the determination.

3. The reasoning applied in making the determination.

4. The appeal rights related to the determination and the time period after which the determination becomes final.

H. If any determination covered by subsection G of this section is defective because it fails to meet the requirements of subsection G of this section, the defect may be cured by issuance of a corrected, amended or new determination. If a defect is alleged and specified in writing within the period for appeal, all time periods applicable to the determination are suspended pending the curative action.

I. This section does not preclude the department from at any time correcting clerical errors that have occurred in the administration of this chapter.

J. A determination, reconsidered determination, revision or refusal to grant relief under this section may be served by electronic means if the party being served consents in writing to service by electronic means. Service by electronic means is deemed complete on transmission. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 23-726, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-726. Contributions; voluntary payment

A. Contributions shall accrue and become payable by each employer for each calendar year in which the employer is subject to this chapter with respect to wages for employment. The contributions shall become due and be paid by each employer to the commission for the fund in accordance with such regulations as the commission prescribes, and shall not be deducted, in whole or in part, from the wages of individuals in the employer's employ.

B. In the payment of contributions, a fractional part of a cent shall be disregarded unless it amounts to one‑half cent or more in which case it shall be increased to one cent. From and after December 31, 2004, the payment of contributions or job training employer taxes is not required if the quarterly amount of the contributions and taxes is less than ten dollars.

C. An employer may make voluntary payments in addition to the contributions required under this chapter that shall be credited to the employer's account in accordance with commission regulation. The voluntary payments shall be included in the employer's account as of the employer's most recent computation date if they are made on or before the following January 31. Voluntary payments when accepted from an employer will not be refunded in whole or in part.

D. The payment of contributions is not required if the quarterly amount of the contribution or taxes is less than ten dollars. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Delayed repeal

Section 23-765, Arizona Revised Statutes, is repealed from and after December 31, 2016.

Sec. 5. Section 23-771, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-771. Eligibility for benefits

A. An unemployed individual shall be is eligible to receive benefits with respect to any week only if the department finds that the individual:

1. Has registered for work at and thereafter has continued to report at an employment office in accordance with such the regulations as prescribed by the department prescribes.

2. Has made a claim for benefits in accordance with section 23‑772.

3. Is able to work.

4. Except for an individual who is applying for shared work benefits pursuant to article 5.1 of this chapter, is available for work and both of the following apply:

(a) The individual has engaged in a systematic and sustained effort to obtain work during at least four days of the week.

(b) The individual has made at least three work search contacts during one job contact per day on four different days of the week.

5. Has been unemployed for a waiting period of one week. A week shall is not be counted as a week of unemployment for the purpose of this paragraph:

(a) Unless it occurs within the benefit year that includes the week with respect to which the individual claims payment of benefits.

(b) Unless the individual was eligible for benefits with respect thereto as provided in this section and sections 23‑775, 23‑776 and 23‑777.

6. Has met one of the following requirements:

(a) Has been paid wages for insured work during the individual's base period equal to at least one and one‑half times the wages paid to the individual in the calendar quarter of the individual's base period in which such the wages were highest, and the individual has been paid wages for insured work in one calendar quarter of the individual's base period equal to an amount that is equal to at least three hundred ninety times the minimum wage prescribed by section 23‑363 that is in effect when the individual files a claim for benefits.

(b) Has for a benefit year beginning on or after September 2, 1984, been paid wages for insured work during at least two quarters of the individual's base period and the amount of such the wages paid in one quarter would be sufficient to qualify the individual for the maximum weekly benefit amount payable under this chapter and the total of the individual's base‑period wages is equal to or greater than the taxable limit as specified in section 23‑622, subsection B, paragraph 1.

7. Following the beginning date of a benefit year established under this chapter or the unemployment compensation law of any other state and prior to before the effective date of a subsequent benefit year under this chapter, has performed services whether or not in employment as defined in section 23‑615 for which wages were payable in an amount equal to or in excess of eight times the weekly benefit amount for which the individual is otherwise qualified under section 23‑779. In making a determination under this paragraph the department shall use information available in its records or require the individual to furnish necessary information within thirty days from after the date notice is given that such the information is required.

B. If an unemployed individual cannot establish a benefit year as defined in section 23‑609 due to receipt during the base period of compensation for a temporary total disability pursuant to chapter 6 of this title, or any similar federal law, the individual's base period shall be the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of the calendar week in which the disability began. Wages previously used to establish a benefit year may not be reused. This subsection does not apply unless all of the following occur:

1. The individual has filed a claim for benefits not later than the fourth calendar week of unemployment after the end of the period of disability.

2. The claim is filed within two years after the period of disability begins.

3. The individual meets the requirements of subsection A of this section.

4. The individual has attempted to return to the employment where the temporary total disability occurred.

C. If an unemployed individual is a member of the national guard or other reserve component of the United States armed forces, the individual shall is not be considered to be either employed or unavailable for work by reason of the individual's participation in drill, training or other national guard or reserve activity that occurs on not more than one weekend per month or in lieu of a weekend drill or the equivalent.

D. The department shall not disqualify an individual from receiving benefits under this chapter on the basis of the individual's separation from employment if the individual is a victim of domestic violence and leaves employment due to a documented case involving domestic violence pursuant to section 13‑3601 or 13‑3601.02. Benefits paid to an individual pursuant to this subsection shall not be charged against an employer's account pursuant to section 23‑727, subsection G.

E. For the purposes of subsection A, paragraph 6 of this section, wages shall be counted as "wages for insured work" for benefit purposes with respect to any benefit year only if that benefit year begins subsequent to the date on which the employing unit by which those wages were paid has become an employer subject to this chapter. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 41-1504, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1504. Powers and duties; e-verify requirement

A. The board of directors, on behalf of the authority, may:

1. Adopt and use a corporate seal.

2. Sue and be sued.

3. Enter into contracts as necessary to carry out the purposes and requirements of this chapter, including intergovernmental agreements pursuant to title 11, chapter 7, article 3 and interagency service agreements as provided by section 35‑148.

4. Lease real property and improvements to real property for the purposes of the authority. Leases by the authority are exempt from chapter 4, article 7 of this title, relating to management of state properties.

5. Employ or retain legal counsel and other consultants as necessary to carry out the purposes of the authority.

6. Develop and use written policies, procedures and guidelines for the terms and conditions of employing officers and employees of the authority and may include background checks of appropriate personnel.

B. The board of directors, on behalf of the authority, shall:

1. Develop comprehensive long-range strategic economic plans for this state and submit the plans to the governor.

2. Annually update a strategic economic plan for submission to the governor.

3. Accept gifts, grants and loans and enter into contracts and other transactions with any federal or state agency, municipality, private organization or other source.

C. The authority shall:

1. Assess and collect fees for processing applications and administering incentives. The board shall adopt the manner of computing the amount of each fee to be assessed. Within thirty days after proposing fees for adoption, the chief executive officer shall submit a schedule of the fees for review by the joint legislative budget committee. It is the intent of the legislature that a fee shall not exceed one per cent percent of the amount of the incentive.

2. Determine and collect registry fees for the administration of the allocation of federal tax exempt industrial development bonds and student loan bonds authorized by the authority. Such monies collected by the authority shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35‑146 and 35‑147, in an authority bond fund. Monies in the fund shall be used, subject to annual appropriation by the legislature, by the authority to administer the allocations provided in this paragraph and are exempt from the provisions of section 35‑190 relating to the lapsing of appropriations.

3. Determine and collect security deposits for the allocation, for the extension of allocations and for the difference between allocations and principal amounts of federal tax exempt industrial development bonds and student loan bonds authorized by the authority. Security deposits forfeited to the authority shall be deposited in the state general fund.

4. At the direction of the board, establish and supervise the operations of full-time or part-time offices in other states and foreign countries for the purpose of expanding direct investment and export trade opportunities for businesses and industries in this state if, based on objective research, the authority determines that the effort would be beneficial to the economy of this state.

5. Establish a program by which entrepreneurs become aware of permits, licenses or other authorizations needed to establish, expand or operate in this state.

6. Be the state registration agency for apprenticeship functions prescribed by the federal government.

D. The authority, through the chief executive officer, may:

1. Contract and incur obligations reasonably necessary or desirable within the general scope of the authority's activities and operations to enable the authority to adequately perform its duties.

2. Use monies, facilities or services to provide matching contributions under federal or other programs that further the objectives and programs of the authority.

3. Accept gifts, grants, matching monies or direct payments from public or private agencies or private persons and enterprises for the conduct of programs that are consistent with the general purposes and objectives of this chapter.

4. Assess business fees for promotional services provided to businesses that export products and services from this state. The fees shall not exceed the actual costs of the services provided.

5. Establish and maintain one or more accounts in banks or other depositories, for public or private monies of the authority, from which operational activities, including payroll, vendor and grant payments, may be conducted. Individual funds that are established by law under the jurisdiction of the authority may be maintained in separate accounts in banks or other depositories, but shall not be commingled with any other monies or funds of the authority.

E. The chief executive officer shall:

1. Hire employees and prescribe the terms and conditions of their employment as necessary to carry out the purposes of the authority. The board of directors shall adopt written policies, procedures and guidelines, similar to those adopted by the department of administration, regarding officer and employee compensation, observed holidays, leave and reimbursement of travel expenses and health and accident insurance. The officers and employees of the authority are exempt from any laws regulating state employment, including:

(a) Chapter 4, articles 5 and 6 of this title, relating to state service.

(b) Title 38, chapter 4, article 1 and chapter 5, article 2, relating to state personnel compensation, leave and retirement.

(d) Title 38, chapter 4, article 4, relating to health and accident insurance.

2. On a quarterly basis, provide public record data in a manner prescribed by the department of administration related to the authority's revenues and expenditures for inclusion in the comprehensive database of receipts and expenditures of state monies pursuant to section 41‑725.

F. In addition to any other requirement, in order to qualify for any grant, loan, reimbursement, tax incentive or other economic development incentive pursuant to this chapter, an applicant that is an employer must register with and participate in the e-verify program in compliance with section 23‑214. The authority shall require verification of compliance with this subsection as part of any application process.

G. Notwithstanding any other law, the authority is subject to chapter 3.1, article 1 of this title, relating to risk management.

H. The authority is exempt from chapter 32, articles 1 and 2 of this title, relating to statewide information technology. The authority shall adopt policies, procedures and guidelines regarding information technology.

I. The authority is exempt from state general accounting and finance practices and rules adopted pursuant to chapter 4, article 3 of this title, but the board shall adopt written accounting practices, systems and procedures for the economic and efficient operation of the authority.

J. The authority is exempt from section 41‑712, relating to the installation and maintenance of telecommunications telecommunication systems.

K. The authority may lease or purchase motor vehicles for use by employees to conduct business activities. The authority is exempt from section 41‑803, relating to the state motor vehicle fleet, and title 38, chapter 3, article 10, relating to vehicle usage and markings.

L. Any tangible or intangible record submitted to or compiled by the board or the authority in connection with its work, including the award of monies, is subject to title 39, chapter 1, unless an applicant shows, or the board or authority determines, that specific information meets either of the following:

1. If made public, the information would divulge the applicant's or potential applicant's trade secrets, as defined in section 44‑401.

2. If made public, the information could potentially harm the applicant's, the potential applicant's or this state's competitive position relating to potential business development opportunities and strategies.

M. The authority is exempt from chapter 25, article 1 of this title, relating to government competition with private enterprise. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 41-1955, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1955. Duty of department concerning employment stabilization, ex‑offender rehabilitation, income maintenance and manpower development; research studies

The department, with the advice and aid of its advisory councils, shall:

1. Take appropriate steps to reduce and prevent unemployment and dependency, and to assist in alleviating the economic and social impact of unemployment and dependency on the person and his family.

2. Encourage and assist in the adoption of practical methods of manpower services, occupational training, vocational counseling and guidance, vocational rehabilitation and retraining, supportive services and other such services the director deems appropriate.

3. Research, recommend, advise and assist in the establishment of community or area facilities, public and private, or both, to provide an integration of direct services and programs for the development of the state's manpower and the reduction of dependency.

4. Promote the effective utilization of unemployed and under‑utilized workers.

5. Aid in the rehabilitation of employable ex‑offenders, in cooperation with the department of corrections. An ex‑offender, by accepting the assistance provided for by this article, shall not be disqualified from receiving further assistance from any other state agency to which he is legally entitled.

6. Be the state registration agency for apprenticeship functions prescribed by the federal government.

6. 7. Carry out and publish the results of research studies for the purpose of this chapter. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Section 41-1993, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1993. Judicial review

A. Any party aggrieved by a decision of the director is entitled to judicial review of the decision pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6.

B. Any party aggrieved by a decision on review of the appeals board may file an application for appeal to the court of appeals with the clerk of the appeals board within thirty days of after the date of mailing or electronic transmission of the decision on review, except as provided in subsection C of this section. On the filing of an application for appeal, the clerk of the appeals board shall transmit to the court of appeals the application for appeal, the original decision of decisions issued by the appeals board, and all requests petitions for review and responses, and the decision on review of the appeals board. The clerk of the appeals board shall also transmit any portions of the record before the department requested by the court of appeals. The clerk of the appeals board shall not process an application for appeal unless the appellant has previously filed a timely request for review under section 23‑672 or 41‑1992 and a decision on review has been issued. The court of appeals shall thereafter grant or deny the application for appeal. If the application is denied, the decision on review of the appeals board shall be deemed final, and no further appeal may not be taken. If the application is granted, the rules for appeals in civil actions shall apply, commencing with the preparation and transmittal of the complete record before the department and a record index. No A bond for costs on appeal or docket fee shall be is not required. The department and all parties before the appeals board shall be given notice of the appeal and an opportunity to appear. All such appeals shall be are limited to the record before the department unless the court orders otherwise. No AN issue may not be raised on appeal which that has not been raised in the request petition for review before the appeals board. The department shall provide the record for use by the court and by any parties who request copies. The cost of providing the record is a taxable cost if the department prevails. The court of appeals may designate one department of division one to hear all appeals under this section.

C. Any party aggrieved by a decision on review of the appeals board concerning tax liability, collection or enforcement may appeal to the tax court, as defined in section 12‑161, within thirty days after the date of mailing or electronic transmission of the decision on review. The appellant need not pay any of the tax, penalty or interest upheld by the appeals board in its decision on review before initiating, or in order to maintain an appeal to the tax court pursuant to this section.

D. Any appeal that is taken to tax court pursuant to this section is subject to the following provisions:

1. No injunction, writ of mandamus or other legal or equitable process may issue in an action in any court in this state against an officer of this state to prevent or enjoin the collection of any tax, penalty or interest.

2. The action shall not begin more than thirty days after the date of mailing or electronic transmission of the appeals board's decision on review. Failure to bring the action within thirty days after the date of mailing or electronic transmission of the appeals board's decision on review constitutes a waiver of the protest and a waiver of all claims against this state arising from or based on the illegality of the tax, penalties and interest at issue.

3. The scope of review of an appeal to tax court pursuant to this section shall be governed by section 12‑910, applying section 23‑613.01 as that section reads on the date the appeal is filed to the tax court or as thereafter amended. Either party to the action may appeal to the court of appeals or supreme court as provided by law.

4. The action cannot be initiated or maintained unless the appellant has previously filed a timely request for review under section 23‑672 or 41‑1992 and a decision on review has been issued. END_STATUTE

Sec. 9. Retroactivity

Section 23‑726, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, is effective retroactively to from and after December 31, 2015.