LITTLE ROCK — A measure is heading to the state Senate that would reduce the unemployment benefits that out-of-work Arkansans can receive.
The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Wednesday endorsed a proposal to reduce the number of weeks someone can receive unemployment assistance from the state from 25 weeks to 20. The measure also reduces weekly unemployment benefits by changing the way they're calculated.
The Senate could on the House-backed bill as soon as Thursday.
The proposal faces heavy opposition from labor groups, who say the changes would reduce unemployment benefits by $20 a week and hurt working families. Supporters of the measure say the changes are needed to keep the state's unemployment fund financially sound.
