Unemployment Training

 The South Dakota Legislature has approved
extended unemployment benefits for workers in an approved training
program.

The House voted Monday to approve changes the Senate had made in
the bill. The measure will become law if Gov. Mike Rounds signs it.
The bill would allow some jobless people to get an additional 26
weeks of unemployment benefits if they are enrolled in training
that would help them find new work in a high-demand occupation.
It also puts into law a policy that lets people who lost
part-time jobs qualify for benefits while only looking for
part-time work.

If the bill becomes law, South Dakota will get an extra $11.7
million in federal aid to support the depleted trust fund that pays
jobless benefits.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)