Chapter 1E. Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Benefits and Tax System; Certain Information to be Available When American Job Centers are Closed.
§ 32–181.01. Unemployment insurance modernization requirements.
(a) The Department of Employment Services ("DOES") shall launch an integrated, fully modernized, and fully functioning unemployment insurance information technology benefits and tax system ("benefits system") for public use no later than September 30, 2022.
(b) The benefits system shall include an internet accessible public interface that:
(1) Can be accessed from all major internet browsers and used on mobile devices and personal computers;
(2) Is accessible to people with disabilities in compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, approved September 26, 1973 (87 Stat. 394; 29 U.S.C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, approved July 26, 1990 (104 Stat. 337; 42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.); and
(3) Complies with subchapter II of Chapter 19 of Title 2.
(c)(1) The Office of Contracting and Procurement ("OCP"), in consultation with DOES, should issue a Request for Proposals for the full modernization of the benefits system, consistent with the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, no later than October 30, 2020.
(2) The OCP should award a contract for the full modernization of the benefits system no later than January 15, 2021.
§ 32–181.02. Certain information to be available when American Job Centers are closed.
(a) Beginning no later than 15 days after December 3, 2020, on any day when American Job Centers are closed (excluding weekends, holidays, and staff training days), the Department of Employment Services ("DOES") shall provide the following materials at its headquarters from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:
(1) Hard copies of unemployment insurance benefits applications, with hard copies of all instructions that are available online for completing the application;
(2) Hard copies of DOES complaint forms for violations of District labor laws, including wage and hour, accrued paid sick time, and workers' compensation laws, with hard copies of all instructions that are available online for completing each form;
(3) Envelopes individuals may use in submitting their applications and complaint forms, with space on the outside to identify the form being submitted; and
(4) A locked box with a slot into which individuals may deposit their completed applications and complaint forms.
(b) The DOES shall make the materials identified in subsection (a) of this section available in a location at its headquarters that is publicly and handicap accessible.
