BILL TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO LAID OFF THROUGH WORKPLACE CLOSURE ADVANCES

The full Senate unanimously approved legislation that would offer extended health benefits to residents left jobless as a result of their place of employment closing. The bill would allow certain employees who are laid off due to a workplace closure to continue receiving employer-sponsored health benefits for up to 18 months, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA. Those individuals – required to purchase the coverage – could then take advantage of reduced insurance premiums, made possible through subsidies provided under the federal economic stimulus.