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ment benefits.
• People are already required to repay any unemployment benefits they receive as a result of fraud, but the proposal would make them pay an additional penalty equal to at least 50 percent of the benefits received.
• Roberts told an advisory council Monday that the proposal is designed to comply with a law passed last year by Congress. That federal law requires states to impose a penalty equal to at least 15 percent of the improper payments, but a penalty of 50 percent seems fair, she said, because state officials have to spend much time and money investigating such cases.

• The Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council, which advises the Labor Department on the unemployment benefit system, will vote on the proposal at its next meeting in late August or early September. The council's recommendations will be presented to Gov. Dennis Daugaard and the 2013 session of the South Dakota Legislature.
• Council member Shawn Lyons, director

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