6-12-13 unemployment benefits

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Senate has approved a bill that would make it easier for the state to recover overpayment of unemployment benefits by allowing officials to check private bank accounts.

The measure requires financial institutions doing business with the state to disclose information about accounts held by people who owe money to the unemployment system.  That is expected to bring in $8 million a year.  The Republican-sponsored measure also increases the top unemployment benefit by $7 per week to $370.  The bill makes someone denied benefits after failing to accept a job offer ineligible until finding a job and earning six times his or her weekly benefit rate. That is up from the current four.

The Senate passed the bill 17-15. The proposal goes next to the state Assembly.