Sisolak takes steps to address unemployment insurance backlog

By Bryan Horwath

Published Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 | 4:35 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 | 5:33 p.m.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has named former state lawmaker Barbara Buckley to lead an effort to reduce an unemployment insurance benefits backlog.

Sisolak today also announced the appointment of Elisa Cafferata as the new acting director of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the agency that handles unemployment claims.

The department has come under fire as it has struggled in recent months to process unemployment claims for scores of Nevadans out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Buckley, a former speaker of the state Assembly, will lead what the Sisolak described as a “rapid response” effort to process stalled unemployment insurance claims. Buckley is executive director of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.

Earlier this week, the Legislature approved a bill to expand unemployment offerings by seven weeks and expedite DETR’s ability to process claims.

“This legislation is not a silver bullet or the final word, but there is no doubt that it will help Nevadans for both the short and long-term going forward,” Sisolak said.

Cafferata replaces Heather Korbulic, former interim director for DETR, who left in June after just two months on the job.

Korbulic’s departure was related to harassment she said she received because of her role at DETR and “threats to her personal safety.”

Before Korbulic, Tiffany Tyler-Garner had the job, but she left in April amid criticism during the early days of the pandemic that the department was not efficiently handling claims.

Many self-employed Nevadans expecting benefits from the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program are still waiting for assistance from the overwhelmed department. Many have complained about difficulties getting through to the unemployment office, often waiting hours on hold and never talking to a representative.