Law and Regulation Details

Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Data

Question 1-How is confidential data defined?

Detail Level:
Broad Mention
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 12
Relevant Subsections:
12
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, § 12 - RELEASE OF REPORTING SYSTEM INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES AND TO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH...Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, data gathered as part of the reporting systems may be used for purposes of evaluating employment and earnings outcomes of programs within the Massachusetts workforce development system. 
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017

Question 2-Who is authorized to disclose data?

Detail Level:
Broad Mention
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 12
Relevant Subsections:
12
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, § 12 - RELEASE AND REPORTING SYSTEM INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES AND TO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH... Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the release by the commissioner...The commissioner may provide access to data gathered as part of the reporting systems for research and statistical purposes... The department of revenue may share reporting system information with the division of unemployment assistance, the division of career services and the department of education in the performance of their official duties. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner may disclose any information referred to in this chapter to the division of unemployment assistance, the division of insurance and the executive office of health and human services under an interagency agreement...
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017

Question 3-For what purposes may data be disclosed?

Detail Level:
Broad Mention
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 12
Relevant Subsections:
12
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, §12 - RELEASE OF REPORTING SYSTEM INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES AND TO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH ...Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, data gathered as part of the reporting systems may be used for purposes of evaluating employment and earnings outcomes of programs within the Massachusetts workforce development system. The commissioner may provide access to data gathered as part of the reporting systems for research and statistical purposes; but, the data shall be released without personal identifiers. ... Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner may disclose any information referred in this chapter to the division of employment assistance, the division of insurance and the executive office of health and human services under an interagency agreement for purposes of the administration and enforcement  of sections 64 to 69, inclusive, of ... and for the administration of the employer medical assistance contribution under ....
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017

Question 4-To which parties may data be disclosed?

Detail Level:
Detailed Explanation
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 12
Relevant Subsections:
12
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, §12 - RELEASE OF REPORTING SYSTEM INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES AND TO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH...The department of revenue may share reporting system information with the division of unemployment assistance, the division of career services and the department of education in the performance of their official duties. ... the commissioner may disclose any information referred to in this chapter to the division of unemployment assistance, the division of insurance and the executive office of health and human services under an interagency agreement ...
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017

Question 5-What specific data elements may be disclosed?

Detail Level:
Broad Mention
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 12
Relevant Subsections:
12
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, § 12 - RELEASE OF REPORTING SYSTEM INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES AND TO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH...Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, data gathered as part of the reporting systems may be used for purposes of evaluating employment and earnings outcomes of programs within the Massachusetts workforce development system ... Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner may disclose any information referred to in this chapter to the division of unemployment assistance, the division of insurance and the executive office of health and human services under an interagency agreement ...
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017

Question 6-What are the content requirements for data sharing agreements?

Detail Level:
Broad Mention
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 12
Relevant Subsections:
12
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, § 12 - RELEASE OF REPORTING SYSTEM INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES AND TO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH...The department of revenue may share reporting system information with the division of unemployment assistance ... 
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017

Question 7-What safeguards are required for data disclosure?

Detail Level:
Broad Mention
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 12
Relevant Subsections:
12
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, § 12 - RELEASE OF REPORTING SYSTEM INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AND OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES AND TO DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH...The commissioner may provide access to data gathered as part of the reporting systems for research and statistical purposes; but, the data shall be released without personal identifiers.
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017

Question 8-What are the payment provisions for data disclosure?

Detail Level:
Not Addressed
Date Reviewed:
8/21/2016

Question 9-What are the penalties for violating disclosure rules?

Detail Level:
Detailed Explanation
Citation:
G. L. c. 62E § 8
Relevant Subsections:
8
Relevant Language:
PART I - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT, TITLE IX - TAXATION, CHAPTER 62E - WAGE REPORTING SYSTEM, § 8 - UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION; FINE; ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE...Unauthorized disclosure of any such information shall be a violation punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars per offense; provided that the unauthorized release of such information about any individual shall be a separate offense from information released about any other individual. Such unauthorized release of information shall also be cause for administrative discipline of any employee who engages in such unauthorized release.
Date Reviewed:
6/20/2017