Program expansion study and report

(a) Study (1) In general The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on the feasibility and possible methods of providing unemployment compensation benefits to covered workers. Such study shall include an analysis of— (A) the data necessary to calculate unemployment compensation benefit amounts for covered workers; (B) the technology necessary to calculate and administer unemployment compensation benefits for covered workers; (C) the measures needed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of unemployment compensation benefits for covered workers; (D) the administrative feasibility of allowing covered workers to become eligible for unemployment compensation benefits; (E) the financing options for unemployment compensation benefits for covered workers; (F) the statutory changes necessary to reasonably and effectively administer unemployment compensation benefits to covered workers, including statutory definitions; and (G) other items determined appropriate by the Secretary. (2) Covered worker defined In this section, the term covered worker means an individual who is not eligible for regular compensation under State or Federal law because the individual— (A) is self-employed; (B) does not have a sufficient work history; or (C) works as an independent contractor. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report on the study conducted under subsection (a).