Kansas begins effort to modernize decades old unemployment system

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Division of Labor have began the $48 million, 26-month effort to modernize the state’s unemployment system – which was created within the Seventies.

On Wednesday, June 2, Governor Laura Kelly says the Kansas Division of Labor formally kicked off its $48 million, 26-month-long effort to modernize the Sunflower State’s unemployment insurance coverage system. She stated she additionally constructed on her earlier help for the mission with a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh which urged him to supply extra funds beforehand allotted by the U.S. Congress for modernization.

“My administration is working rapidly to replace our antiquated laptop methods so Kansans who want unemployment advantages don’t expertise the identical issues they confronted through the pandemic,” Gov. Kelly stated. “Congress promised to assist states modernize their unemployment insurance coverage methods and allotted the assets to get them began. Kansas upheld its finish of the deal by investing tens of millions of {dollars} in a brand new system. It’s now time for the U.S. Division of Labor to launch these modernization funds to the states as Congress directed. It’s the one method to make sure we’re ready for the subsequent financial downturn.”

Kelly stated the state’s present mainframe used to course of UI advantages was created within the Seventies. She famous the final main push to modernize the system began underneath Governor Kathleen Sebelius in 2005, however was deserted by the Brownback administration in 2011.

“That shortsighted choice immediately led to the systemic inefficiencies and vulnerabilities that occurred inside the state’s unemployment system through the pandemic,” Kelly stated in a launch on Tuesday.

The Governor additionally stated the hassle to convey the state’s UI system into the twenty first century shall be led by info know-how specialists at Tata Consultancy Companies.

“We have now been trying ahead to today and to bringing everybody collectively to start the formal technique of creating a brand new, modernized unemployment system,” stated Kansas Labor Secretary Amber Shultz. “TCS is a succesful accomplice for KDOL to set a path for know-how and course of transformation that may allow the supply of software program that shall be conscious of the longer term wants of the state.”

Kelly stated the modernization will embrace:

• Modernizing know-how – The company’s antiquated IT legacy system which helps unemployment occasion taxes, cost of unemployment insurance coverage advantages and supply of employment providers shall be changed.
• Enhancing buyer expertise – The system will ship improved providers like on-line self-service, automation, entry to knowledge, and integration with companions.
• Reworking enterprise processes – Improved efficiencies in enterprise processes shall be offered, new instruments for KDOL staff shall be offered and simpler service deliveries will help Kansans.
• Bettering knowledge safety – The system will be capable of higher anticipate and reply to safety threats and forestall unemployment insurance coverage fraud.
• Offering expandable know-how – The system shall be able to delivering and supporting new packages and performance, in addition to connections to different methods like workforce instruments.

The Governor famous {that a} web page has been created on the KDOL web site to maintain Kansans up to date on the modernization mission’s progress. For the latest info, click on HERE.

To see a duplicate of the letter Gov. Kelly despatched the Division of Labor, click on HERE.

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