The California Senate Labor, Public Unemployment and Retirement Committee advanced Senate Bill 1116 on Apr. 24, which proposes allowing workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits after striking for two weeks. The bill now heads to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for further consideration.
California lawmakers passed similar legislation in 2023, but Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed the measure.
Unemployment insurance is a joint federal and state program that provides temporary monetary benefits to eligible laid-off workers who are actively seeking new employment. Qualifying individuals receive unemployment compensation as a percentage of their lost wages in the form of weekly cash benefits while they search for new employment.
The federal government oversees the general administration of state unemployment insurance programs. The states control the specific features of their unemployment insurance programs, such as eligibility requirements and length of benefits.
For information about unemployment insurance programs across the country, click here.
Additional reading: