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House OKs temporary REED Act benefit extension allocating $22 million to unemployed Utahns
Summary
First Substitute HB 19 would use REED Act federal funds to provide up to five additional weeks of unemployment benefits for those who exhausted state and federal benefits; floor debate focused on a $370,000 administrative fiscal note for reprogramming and staffing.
The House passed First Substitute House Bill 19 Tuesday to spend a portion of federal REED Act funds on additional unemployment benefits and administration.
Representative Newbold, the sponsor, said the Employment Advisory Council recommended returning 50% of the REED Act allocation to additional benefits and retaining 50% in the unemployment trust fund. "House bill 19 ... would give an additional 5 weeks of benefits to those that have completely exhausted the original benefits," Newbold said, adding the program would run from June 1 through December 2003.
The bill carries a fiscal note: roughly $22,000,000 in benefit payments (federal funds) and approximately $370,000 to the Department of Workforce Services for reprogramming computers and administration. Representative Bryce and others questioned why implementation would require $370,000, noting prior federal extensions had been handled previously with less expense; Newbold said the department assured him that was the least amount required to reprogram systems and administer the benefit.
After discussion, the House voted to pass the bill; the sponsor emphasized the intent to help those exhausting available benefits during elevated unemployment.
