JEFFERSON CITY — Unemployed workers could receive an extra 20 weeks of benefits, thanks to passage of a bill by the Missouri legislature.
The legislation sent Friday to Gov. Jay Nixon would allow Missourians to take advantage of a provision in the federal economic stimulus act extending the period for which people can receive jobless benefits.
The National Employment Law Project estimates the bill could allow Missourians to receive an additional $150 million of unemployment benefits through the end of 2009.
Also included in the bill are unemployment law changes that could let Missouri tap into an additional $133 million in federal stimulus money. But it's unclear if the federal government will accept the wording of Missouri's legislation on that provision.