The Senate Transportation Committee today unanimously approved SB 372, sponsored by Senator Kelli Stargel, which strengthens the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s efforts to fight fraud in the state’s Reemployment Assistance program. The legislation provides DEO access to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ DAVID System, which includes the state photo identification database.
Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “I want to thank Senator Stargel, Chairman Gainer and the Senate Transportation committee for their leadership in protecting Florida’s Reemployment Assistance program from theft and fraud. This good bill will help DEO quickly identify criminals and prevent them from stealing Reemployment Assistance from job seekers who are trying to get back to work.”
The legislation includes the tools and legal authorizations that are critical to prevent and fight public benefits fraud by providing DEO access to the driver’s license database to confirm provided IDs are not fraudulent.
About DEO
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce, and community development efforts. This new approach helps expedite economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.floridajobs.org.
