Bill with more ‘hoops’ for unemployment benefits advances in House
Legislation requiring more stringent verification of those applying for unemployment insurance benefits and imposing more work search requirements to stay on the rolls is gaining ground in the House, passing through its second committee reference.
Critics contend the bill (HB 1289) puts more hurdles in the way of getting benefits that are already meager. But Rep. Shane Abbott, a DeFuniak Springs Republican sponsoring the bill, defended it as a way to help people get back to work, pointing to another provision designed to match applicants’ skill sets with job openings.
“The goal is not to increase poverty. The goal is to get people into jobs and positions that get them out of poverty,” Abbott...
