Governor signs unemployment extension bill

A bill signed Thursday by Gov. Jay Nixon extends unemployment benefits and provides assistance for those looking for work.

House Bill 1544, sponsored by Rep. Barney Fisher, R-Richards, and Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, allows unemployed Missouri residents who have exhausted federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits to file for up to 20 weeks in the state's Extended Benefits Program.

The state Labor Department estimates that 4,000 people will be assisted through the program, which is funded by federal money and will last until March 3, 2011, or until the money runs out.

The bill also adds 26 weeks to the state Shared Work Program, which allows businesses that would otherwise lay off employees to reduce those employees' hours and cover part of the difference with unemployment benefits. Currently, 534 employers statewide participate in the program, benefiting more than 29,000 employees.

"As this economy begins to recover, we must give unemployed Missourians the tools to get back to work, while giving businesses the recourses to keep Missourians employed,” Nixon said in a news release. “This bipartisan legislation will help put Missourians back to work and save thousands of good-paying Missouri jobs."