SALEM – Over 23,000 Oregonians will be eligible for emergency unemployment benefits under a bill being fast-tracked through the state Senate so that claims can begin on May 1st.
The bill, House Bill 3305, was approved unanimously today by the Senate Commerce Committee. It will provide an additional six and a half weeks of benefits to as many as 23,300 Oregonians who have used up their initial benefits but not yet found a job.
State Sen. Floyd Prozanski, chairman of the Commerce Committee, called the bill a “win-win” for Oregon.
“This plan helps struggling families and at the same time it fuels the economy. Recipients spend these funds right away on essential needs, so local businesses gain from increased consumer spending while families receive some stability,” Prozanski said.
The full Senate is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday, several days earlier than usual. It is being fast-tracked so that Governor Ted Kulongoski can sign it in time to meet the May 1st target date.
Benefits will be available from May 1, 2005 through August 13, 2005. To be eligible, a person has to have exhausted their regular unemployment insurance benefit on December 4, 2004 or later.
“We must get this critically needed assistance to Oregon families,” said Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown. “The economy here is recovering slowly, and in some counties in Oregon the unadjusted unemployment rate is still quite high – several have rates over 10 percent. Struggling families can really use the help this extension provides.”
Despite recent job gains, the state still has approximately 140,000 unemployed and less than half of them remain eligible for unemployment benefits.
Benefit amounts range from $93 to $419 per week, based on the prior earning level of the individual. The average weekly benefit in Oregon in 2004 was $245.
Brown thanked Senate President Peter Courtney for his help in expediting the bill through the Senate.
