(AP) -- South Carolina senators are set to consider bills that would add restrictions for drawing unemployment benefits.
The Senate Labor Commerce and Industry Committee will take up bills Wednesday that would require the unemployment to pass drug tests to collect their benefits and mandate 16 hours of community service after six months to keep receiving them. Other bills would automatically disqualify workers in seasonal jobs and those fired for any type of misconduct.
Unemployed workers can receive state-approved benefits for up to 20 weeks. Federally paid benefits can then extend through 77 weeks.
The Department of Employment and Workforce paid out $50 million in unemployment benefits last fiscal year to fired workers. Their benefits are now reduced depending on the type of misconduct and severity. It can include complete disqualification.
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