Employment Development Department: policies and practices.

Assembly Member Hart's proposal modifies how frequently California's Employment Development Department (EDD) must evaluate its unemployment fraud prevention efforts, shifting from annual to biennial assessments starting in 2027. The measure maintains EDD's current annual reporting requirements through January 1, 2026, after which the department would analyze and report on its fraud detection tools every two years to designated legislative committees.

The bill preserves existing requirements for EDD to document fraud prevention methods while allowing the department to protect sensitive details about specific anti-fraud practices. Reports must continue reaching five legislative bodies: the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement; Assembly Committee on Insurance; Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review; Assembly Committee on Budget; and Joint Legislative Audit Committee. These submissions remain subject to standard legislative reporting protocols under Government Code Section 9795.

This adjustment to EDD's assessment schedule represents the only substantive change to current unemployment insurance fraud monitoring practices. The measure requires a majority vote for passage and falls under fiscal committee review, though it includes no new appropriations or impacts on local programs.