F.S. 443.071443.071 Penalties.—(1) Any person who makes a false statement or representation, knowing it to be false, or knowingly fails to disclose a material fact to obtain or increase any benefits or other payment under this chapter or under an employment security law of any other state, of the Federal Government, or of a foreign government, either for herself or himself or for any other person, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Each false statement or representation or failure to disclose a material fact constitutes a separate offense. (2) Any employing unit or any officer or agent of any employing unit or any other person who makes a false statement or representation, knowing it to be false, or who knowingly fails to disclose a material fact, to prevent or reduce the payment of benefits to any individual entitled to benefits, to avoid becoming or remaining subject to this chapter, or to avoid or reduce any contribution, reimbursement, or other payment required from an employing unit under this chapter commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (3) Any employing unit or any officer or agent of any employing unit or any other person who fails to furnish any reports required under this chapter or to produce or permit the inspection of or copying of records as required under this chapter, who fails or refuses, within 6 months after written demand by the Department of Commerce or its tax collection service provider, to keep and maintain the payroll records required by this chapter or by rule of the department or the state agency providing tax collection services, or who willfully fails or refuses to make any contribution, reimbursement, or other payment required from an employer under this chapter commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (4) Any person who establishes a fictitious employing unit by submitting to the Department of Commerce or its tax collection service provider fraudulent employing unit records or tax or wage reports by the introduction of fraudulent records into a computer system, the intentional or deliberate alteration or destruction of computerized information or files, or the theft of financial instruments, data, and other assets, for the purpose of enabling herself or himself or any other person to receive benefits under this chapter to which such person is not entitled, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (5) In any prosecution or action under this section, the entry into evidence of the signature of a person on a document, letter, or other writing constitutes prima facie evidence of the person’s identity if the following conditions exist:(a) The document includes the person’s name, residence address, and social security number. (b) The signature of the person is witnessed by an agent or employee of the Department of Commerce or its tax collection service provider at the time the document, letter, or other writing is filed. (6) The entry into evidence of an application for reemployment assistance benefits initiated by the use of the Internet claims program or the interactive voice response system telephone claims program of the Department of Commerce constitutes prima facie evidence of the establishment of a personal benefit account by or for an individual if the following information is provided: the applicant’s name, residence address, date of birth, social security number, and present or former place of work. (7) The entry into evidence of a transaction history generated by a personal identification number, password, or other identifying code used by the department in establishing that a certification or claim for one or more weeks of benefits was made against the benefit account of the individual, together with documentation that payment was paid by a state warrant made to the order of the person, direct deposit via electronic means, or department-issued debit card, constitutes prima facie evidence that the person claimed and received reemployment assistance benefits from the state. (8) All records relating to investigations of reemployment assistance fraud in the custody of the Department of Commerce or its tax collection service provider are available for examination by the Department of Law Enforcement, the state attorneys, or the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor in the prosecution of offenses under s. 817.568 or in proceedings brought under this chapter. History.—s. 18, ch. 18402, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 4151(510), 8135(45), (46), (47); s. 16, ch. 20685, 1941; s. 11, ch. 26879, 1951; s. 1, ch. 29770, 1955; ss. 17, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 372, ch. 71-136; s. 2, ch. 75-121; s. 1, ch. 78-295; s. 7, ch. 79-308; ss. 1, 8, 9, ch. 80-95; s. 142, ch. 97-103; s. 22, ch. 2003-36; s. 2, ch. 2005-209; s. 355, ch. 2011-142; s. 5, ch. 2012-30; s. 176, ch. 2024-6. Note.—Former s. 443.22.
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