State Senate Passes Unemployment Assistance Extention

Sacramento, CA -- Following the Assembly's lead from earlier this week, the Senate Thursday passed legislation that will pave the way for out-of-work Californians to receive up to an additional 20 weeks of unemployment assistance.

Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth comments, "It's unfortunate that California's economy is in such a state we do have to provide this kind of assistance but the fact is this is welcomed assistance for people in tough times."

To protect taxpayers from higher spending AB23 includes language that specifies that the federal government will pay for 100 percent of the new benefits. California is scheduled to receive approximately $2.5 billion from the Federal Stimulus legislation package to pay for the extended benefits.