PLENARY PRESENTATIONS:

Economic Forecast
Rich Hobbie, Executive Director NASWA

UI WORKSHOPS:

Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) - Tennessee Employee Leasing Act
Tennessee is one of the few states in the nations with a state law regarding employee leasing. This presentation gave the State's perspective on their implementation efforts to comply with the Tennessee Employee Leasing Act. What changes were made in reporting requirements and tax liability determinations? Over the last few years there has been explosive growth in: What are some of the challenges UI agencies are facing as a result of this phenomena? Are there opportunities as well as problems inherent in the growth? What are the broader implications of these trends for the national UI program?
Moderator: Wendy Tyson, Administrator, UI Tax Division (WY)
Panelist: Marie Moss, UI Director (TN)

Reemployment- Reemployment Claimants in a Global Community
Connecting UI beneficiaries with new jobs or with opportunities for developing their skills is a fundamental goal of states' Ul programs. Reaching this goal has been challenging due to the resources required to conduct the necessary assessments for individual beneficiaries. The REA initiative has been a popular and powerful method to promote Ul beneficiaries' reemployment and talent development.
Moderator: Dale Ziegler, Deputy Administrator, Office of Workforce Security (USDOL)
Panelist: Karen A. Coleman, Director of the Division of Employment and Workforce Solutions (NY)

Trust Fund Solvency
This workshop that examined present and future financing issues including restoring Ohio's fund to solvency. Trust Fund Solvency is a tax surcharge that is added to the employer's standard or computed tax rate. The tax surcharge supports administrative costs. In addition, the tax surcharge supports a general pool fund for paying UI benefits not directly charged to an employer. Learn why an employer with an increased percent of excess pays a lower solvency-tax-surcharge rate, while employers with a decreased percent of excess pay at a higher solvency-tax-surcharge rate,
Moderator: John Sharkey, Executive Director ITSC, State of Maryland
Panelist:
Amanda Gohl, UI-ICON Account Manager, ACS
Wayne Vroman, PhD. Economist
Ron Wilus, U.S. DOL
Handouts:
Trust Fund Solvency: The Ohio Story
Trust Fund Solvency: The Texas Story

UCX/UCFE/USERRA/ITRA
UCX, UCFE, USERRA, and TRA claims require special processing within the UI program. This informative workshop provided a brief overview of federal claims processing, claims processing for ex-service members as well as more other unique processes related to USERRA and TRA claims processing.
Moderator: Tom Byerley, Assistant Director, UI (OR)
UCX.pdf Handouts: Overview of Unemployment Insurance for Ex- Servicemembers (UCX) Program
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)

How to Reduce Calls to the Call Center
UI Call Centers are charged with handling a large volume of telephones calls from the public to answer general questions about filing for Unemployment Insurance, accept and process claims for periods of unemployment, and elicit additional facts for eligibility determinations. One of the challenges of managing a call center operation is to reduce wait times and leverage the number of callers against the number of call center agents available to handle the call volume. Panel members discussed strategies to improve call center performance. Learn how to reduce repeat callers, reduce abandoned calls, develop best practices in call queue management, and hear ideas to streamline call center workflow.
Moderator: Kelly Karch, Chief, Field Direction and Management (NY)
Panelists: Jeff Frischmann, EDS Manager, UI Operations Center (NV)
Eric Holen, Network Operations Manager (TX)
Rick Yezk, Call Center & Interstate Director (CT)

ICON Modernization
As your state continues to invest millions of dollars in Ul modernization projects, are you including Interstate Connection (ICON) applications in those efforts? Do you understand the potential long-term benefits these applications could have toward improving your UI modernization plans? Data exchange and integrated applications are increasingly becoming more essential parts of state productivity and modernization. This workshop gave an overview of ICON, how its applications work, and modernization being applied to ICON. Learn about the upcoming modernization plans for ICON. What technology changes are being proposed and how will they impact your state? What is the rollout plan for the changes to the network and applications? What does your state need to do to be ready for these changes?
Moderator: John Sharkey, Executive Director, Information Technology Support Center (ITSC)
Panelist: Amanda Gohl, UI-ICON Account Manager, Affiliated Computer Systems (ACS)

Independent Contractor Case Study
The problem of worker misclassification is increasing across the country. Learn about the outcomes of a Joint Task Force's efforts to break down the underground economy that destroys the integrity of the UI tax system. Hear the federal perspective and update regarding independent contractors and misclassification. Discuss questionable practices and hear tips that can help you detect incidents of misclassification. With the growing use of misclassified or non-classified workers, what are the implications and challenges for the UI program? Who should be covered? How are USDOL and the states addressing this issue? This session provided a description of the independent contractor (IC) issues from the federal perspective, including tax gap issues, employer motivation and current examples of IC detection and enforcement initiatives. Approaches to worker misclassification, independent contractor determinations, new audit and investigative models also will be discussed.
Moderator: Laura Boyett, UI Director (ME)
Panelists:
Thomas Crowley, UI Tax Chief (USDOL)
Edward Malmborg, Director, Division of Unemployment Insurance (MA)

Automated Adjudications- Adjudications in the 21^st Century
How UI agencies manage their adjudication systems has changed over the years. By attending this interactive workshop, Attendees learned how two states have modernized their system for improved performance management and customer service. Participants benefited from an interactive look into the capabilities of the State of Arizona Integrated Adjudication System (IAS). IAS is a web-based application for adjudicators and administrators to perform UI benefit claim adjudication and case management. The presentation included scheduling, assigning cases, reports, calendars, and more. Minnesota's approach to non-monetary issue management utilizes real-time issue identification and fact-finding along workflow tools to prioritize work, ensure speed and quality and to overcome identified weakness is the old paper-based system. Modeled after a call center management approach, the workflow system is designed to prioritize work based on criticality to the customer and move it to the staff best suited to completing a timely, accurate and quality determination.
Moderator: Carol Gibson, UI Coordinator (RI)
Panelists:
Jim Hegman, UI Program Performance and Outreach Director (MN)
Franklin (Frank) R. Brewster II, M.A., UI Benefits Manager (AZ)
Miryam Valenzuela, Assistant Benefits Manager, Interstate Program Coordinator (AZ)

Budget Cuts and Postal Services Best Practices
This workshop presented several perspectives of opportunities to maximize efficiencies and implement cost-cutting measures. Efficiencies and cost savings through technology will be explored from State of Utah perspective. Budget challenges are a continual problem for Directors and State Administrators. Learn how one state met the budget challenge in MDES v. Budget.
Moderator: Marie Moss, UI Director (TN)
Panelist:
Christopher (Chris) Peretto, Director, Customer Services (MI)
Bill Starks, UI Director (UT)
Dale Smith, Director, Office of Customer Operations Support (MS)

Integrated Adjudication System (lAS)
Arizona shares its experience in implementing an integrated adjudication system (lAS). lAS is a web-based application for adjudicators and administrators to perform UI benefit claims management and adjudication. Integrated scheduling and adjudication provides UI management with the tools to track case status, timeliness, and performance outcomes.
Moderator: Dennis Green, MIS Manager (AZ)
Panelists:
Tony Strayhand, Workforce Development Project Manager (AZ)
Kris Goins, Management Analyst III (AZ)

Internal Security
The internal security workshop provided important information on security requirements and useful strategies and tools for enhancing security within the UI Program. Information was presented by the Region 3 Office, Florida and Nevada and include a specific example of how effective security procedures is used 'In monitoring activities and identifying potential threats, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities.
Moderator: John Herndon, Operations & Management Consultant Manager, Florida Agency For Workforce Innovations (FL)
Panelists:
Dianna Milhollin, Region 3 UI Directors, USDOL-ETA
Steve Zuelke, Manager, Benefit Program Integrity Program Unit, Employment Security Division

Pretexting
Pretexting is the act of creating & using an invented scenario to obtain confidential information. It exploits the weakest link in the security chain - your staff. This workshop explained what pretexting is, how it works, why it is used, and why it is an enormous risk to your agency. Actual pretexting calls to UI are included in the presentation (the cans are from a nationwide pretexting scam that involved 50 state UI agencies, the SSA, IRS, and many private entities). This group was recently indicted, including 12,000 counts of identity theft, as a result of a joint investigation that started with CO & WA state Ul staff and ended with multi-state federal indictments. This workshop will help you avoid this new type of fraud. Pretexting is an unlawful practice that compromises UI confidentiality and leads to identity theft, Using technology, two states worked together to bring down a crime ring operating in multiple locations and states, Is your UI data in jeopardy? Would your call center agents recognize a pretexter?
Moderator: Vicki Smith, Chief, UI Integrity Branch (CO)
Panelist: William (Bill) Lafferty, Manager, Telephony Operations (CO)
Handouts: Pretexting
Scam Letter
Pretex Side by Side Comparison
News Article - 10 private eyes around country charged with illegal dirt-digging

Virtual Office
While a "virtual office" sounds like an easy solution to provide flexibility for employees and cost savings to your agency, it also requires raises numerous questions for senior management. This workshop provided an interactive opportunity to discuss issues related to personnel, data security, technology requirements, and performance outcomes in the Arizona Virtual Office program,
Moderator: Rochelle L. Webb, Administrator, Employment Administration (AZ)
Panelist: Andrew (Andy) Baldwin, CPM, UI Director (AZ)

LEGAL ISSUES WORKSHOPS:

Judicial Perspective
An Arizona appellate judge addressed the group on judicial review of administrative agency decisions.
Speaker: Judge Maurice Portley, Arizona Court of Appeals (AZ)
Moderator: Charles Santaguida, Administrative Law Judge, Appellate Services Administration (AZ)

UI Future: How a New Congress and Administration will impact the UI program
The Unemployment Insurance system is facing a growing list of challenges. Federal administrative dollars are shrinking while demands on the system increase. Many trust funds face solvency issues as the jobless rate rises. As the economy changes, workers who have historically been denied Ul protections are demanding greater equity and access to benefits. In the aftermath of a historic national election, three leading Ul policy experts - representing workers, employers and state workforce agencies - answered tough questions about how the issues facing the UI program and the workforce system as a whole will likely be addressed in the new Congress.
Moderator: George Wentworth, Director Program Policy, Connecticut Department of Labor (CT)
Panelists:
Maurice Emsellem (Policy Director, National Employment Law Project National Employment Law Project
Rich Hobbie, Executive Director, NASWA
Doug Holmes, President, UWC

Federal Conformity Issues
A broad-based discussion of various state issues related to conformity with federal law, the recent enactment of federal legislation authorizing the intercept of federal income tax refunds to recover UI debts due to fraud and legal issues around the EUC08 program.
Speaker: Bob Johnston, USDOL - ETA, UI Legislative Services
Pam Mertens, USDOL - ETA, UI Legislative Services

Open Forum
State attorneys shared their experiences and perspectives on a variety of current legal issues and topics of interest identified in advance of the program, including a new Wisconsin law that penalizes employers who do not participate in first level adjudication.
Moderator: Bob Ganong (MA)
Panelist: Daniel LaRocque, Director, Legal Affairs, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (WI)

Unemployment Tax Developments
Presentations focused on an Illinois law that imposes penalties on employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors, a survey of state efforts to implement SUTA dumping laws and California's enforcement experience. In addition, the leader of a trade association representing professional employer organizations addressed state concerns about how PEOs can impact experience rating.
Moderator: Joe Mueller, Legal Counsel, Illinois Department of Employment Security (IL)
Speakers:
Theo Goodwin, Senior Staff Counsel, California Employment Development Department (CA)
Tim Tucker (National Association of Professional Employer Organizations)
Thomas Crowley, UI Tax Chief, ETA/OWS, Division of Unemployment Insurance Operations

State Compliance with Equal Opportunity and Non-discrimination laws
This program featured an enforcement official from the U.S. Department of Labor Civil Rights Center, who addressed a range of discrimination law compliance issues confronting state workforce agencies. Topics included challenges under Title VI Limited English Proficiency (LEP) standards and issues of access to the UI and ES programs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Moderator: Michael Milwee, Senior Assistant Attorney General, District of Comlumbia
Department of Employment Services (DC)
Speakers: Denise Sudell, USDOL Civil Rights Center

CLOSING PLENARY PRESENTATIONS:

Restoring and Improving Unemployment Insurance: An Evidence-Based Approach
Christopher J. O'Leary, W.E. Upjohn Institute

UI for the 21^st Century
Cheryl Atkinson, U.S. DOL/ETA