COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Lawmakers have begun a review of the South Carolina Employment Security Commission.
The State reported a seven-member House committee started work Tuesday.
The commission runs the unemployment benefits program and calculates the state's monthly unemployment rate.
The recession drained South Carolina's $1 billion unemployment benefits trust fund and the state has been forced to borrow $622 million from the federal government to pay benefits.
The commission governed by a three-member panel also has been criticized for not alerting lawmakers to a law change needed to allow extended unemployment benefits.
The General Assembly made those changes in a special meeting in October.
The committee plans two more meetings this month.
Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com
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