ATLANTA – House Minority Leader James Beverly (D-Macon), State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta), Rhonda Burnough (D-Riverdale) and Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) oppose the Georgia Department of Labor’s (GDOL) user agreement form for its Legislative Portal Access pilot program, which would allow legislators to monitor complaints and requests from their constituents.
“The labor commissioner and his department are placing the unemployment crisis on legislators,” said Rep. Beverly. “By signing the Legislator Portal Access agreement form, legislators will be forced into this unfortunate catastrophe. Instead of dealing with this crisis, the commissioner continues to avoid the necessary steps to support Georgians facing financial hardships. GDOL’s Legislator Portal Access agreement limits what data legislators may disclose to the public and puts Georgians at greater risk with unemployment insurance.”
Rep. Scott, who was invited to participate in the pilot program, submitted a letter to the GDOL commissioner expressing her concerns about the user agreement requirements for the program. To address these shared concerns, these legislators urge the GDOL to pause opening the pilot program and reconsider its terms of use for legislators who participate in the program.
“I am extremely disappointed that Georgia’s labor department would have legislators jump through hoops in order to assist their constituents,” said Rep. Scott. “If the labor commissioner refuses to work with the elected officials chosen by the people of Georgia, he may want to reconsider his position as the head of this agency.”
These legislators are concerned that the pilot program would place the responsibility of constituent complaints on members of the Georgia General Assembly. They are also concerned that the confidentiality requirements would limit their ability to assist with complaints, such as utilizing data to develop legislation and referencing the portal data during legislative hearings. They are also concerned that this agreement would prevent them from providing another government agency with information that may help resolve a constituent’s case.
“For over a year and a half, legislators have provided assistance and support to help Georgians recover their GDOL benefits, resolve claims and appeals,” said Rep. Schofield. “The lack of transparency and accountability by the GDOL further exacerbated the stress and contributed to grave personal and financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The dereliction of duties by GDOL leadership and rejection of common sense solutions offered to its commissioner has greatly impacted families and communities across the state of Georgia. The commissioner’s latest attempt to shift his responsibility to legislators confirms his inability to effectively govern and lead the Georgia Department of Labor.”
Additionally, the legislators oppose the requirement of maintaining and submitting a record of authorized users who accessed the portal on behalf of the GDOL. These legislators are concerned that they may have to pay for additional technology in order to participate in the portal program. These state representatives also believe the agreement could create a criminal and civil liability for state legislators and their staff.
“I find it insulting that the commissioner, who is an elected official like us, would now want to shift the responsibility for unemployment claims to the legislators,” said Rep. Burnough. “Legislators have tried to work with him over the past two years to resolve unemployment claims, and now he wants us to work together. This Legislator Portal would be an insult to all those Georgians who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. We are not going to sit back and sing ‘Kumbaya.’ We are going to continue to push for a federal investigation of the GDOL.”
“The Georgia Department of Labor continues to fail Georgians,” said Rep. Davis. “The lack of response to unemployment insurance claims, a failed unemployment insurance system that cost $50 million dollars and silencing legislators by way of the Legislator Portal Access agreement form will limit state legislative oversight. It’s time for the labor commissioner to take the necessary steps to move Georgia forward and tackle the financial hardships Georgians continue to face.”
Since the start of the pandemic, members of the GHDC Subcommittee on COVID-19 have worked to address constituents’ complaints, concerns and issues involving the Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and the GDOL.
Representative James Beverly represents the citizens of District 143, which includes portions of Bibb County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and currently serves as House Minority Leader. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and on the Ethics, Health & Human Services, Retirement, Rules, Small Business Development and Special Rules committees.
Representative Rhonda Burnough represents the citizens of District 77, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves on the Special Committee on Election Integrity and the Economic Development & Tourism, Governmental Affairs, Higher Education and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Viola Davis represents the citizens of District 87, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Insurance, Interstate Cooperation and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Kim Schofield represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Interstate Cooperation, Information and Audits and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
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