STATE OF GEORGIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR
For Immediate Release
Contact: Office of Communications
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
(404) 651-7774
Governor Perdue Signs Unemployment Legislation
ATLANTA - Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced that House Bill 581 has
been signed into law. The legislation will allow Georgia to draw down
$226 million in federal funds to shore up the state's unemployment trust
fund.
"Signing HB 581 will help prevent tax increases on Georgia businesses so
they can grow and create jobs," said Governor Perdue. "The changes
in
our unemployment rules and regulations are relatively minor, and I
appreciate the General Assembly's willingness to approve additional
benefits for unemployed Georgians."
Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond and committee chairmen Rep. Mike
Coan and Sen. Ralph Hudgens worked closely with the Governor's Office to
develop HB 581. To qualify for the federal funds, the state expanded
unemployment benefits by allowing people seeking part-time work to
qualify for unemployment. In addition, Georgians can receive
unemployment while in a training program if they were laid off from a
declining occupation and are training for a high-demand occupation.
These changes will cost the state less than $1.2 million a year.
HB 581 also provides extended benefits for Georgians who have exhausted
their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. The provision allows
for an extra 13 weeks of benefits, which will be funded entirely by
federal funds for almost all Georgia employers. The provisions of the
bill are effective immediately; however the Commissioner of Labor can
delay the start date of the extended benefits provision until May 25, if
he deems such a delay necessary.
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