The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday tightening the requirements for unemployment benefits.
HB 29, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, passed the House on a 76-25 vote. The legislation would require most Alabamians claiming unemployment to contact five potential job representatives per week to claim or maintain benefits, up from the current requirement of three.
Democrats expressed concern for poor people in the state receiving unemployment benefits. Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, said people on unemployment are people who want to work, not chronically unemployed people.
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“Usually if a person is receiving unemployment, it’s because that person has worked,” he said. “We’re treating these people as if they are people that don’t want to work … These are not people that are just sitting at home waiting on a welfare check.”
Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville, said he is concerned about counties that do not have a large job market. He proposed an amendment to keep the job search requirement at three per week for counties with a population less than 20,000. The House adopted the amendment 93-11.
“In the town of Hayneville, we probably have seven businesses,” he said. “With lack of transportation, it’s already a burden for them to come into town to try to get at least three contacts from businesses … They’re coming in just to check a box.”
Rep. Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, said she is concerned about the potential burden placed on employers. She read an email from a constituent who opposed the measure, citing red tape and hoops for employers to jump through. She also said the bill would harm rural Alabamians.
“This bill would unnecessarily increase administrative red tape for unemployment insurance claims and it would deny people benefits they have paid for and earned over the years,” Clarke read.
The bill moves to the Senate.
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