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Hearing on unemployment reforms bill taking place

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LANSING, Mich. -- Right now, testimony about a bill to reform the Unemployment Insurance Agency is being heard by the Michigan House Oversight and Ethics Committee.

The issues revolve around a $47 million computer system known as MiDAS. It was launched in 2013 by Governor Rick Snyder's administration and the UIA. It's been called efficient because it makes determinations without human intervention.

In October 2015, state representative Roger Victory introduced a bill that seeks to stop false fraud charges from being levied against innocent citizens. The bill would require a UIA employee to double-check the computer's finding. The UIA would also have to send a second notice to the person's mailing address and give them 30 days to respond before issuing a fine.

Currently, the agency will send notifications to an online account for people who have elected to go paperless. However, if that person has stopped receiving benefits and gone back to work, they may not have a reason to check that online account.

FOX 17 Problem Solver Darren Cunningham is at the hearing. He'll have more on FOX 17 News at 4, 5, and 6 p.m.