Florida's Unemployment Compensation Penalties

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 unemployment compensation 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. 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. Each false statement or representation or failure to disclose a material fact, such as a hostile work environment, constitutes a separate offense. 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 Agency for Workforce Innovation or its tax collection service provider, to keep and maintain the payroll records required by this chapter or by rule of the Agency for Workforce Innovation 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.