Repairing the Safety Net

Laid off workers stay awake at night worried about their lost income and health care. Experienced workers who are unemployed can’t put their skills to work rebuilding our economy. Families and the state suffer. By providing necessary support to the vulnerable and those most impacted by the economic crisis, we not only provide a lifeline to families and neighborhoods in need, but also create vital economic stimulus to put our state on the road to recovery.

• Remove barriers to training benefits for laid off workers (AB 2058 – Block). A successful transition to a new occupation often requires longer-term training through union apprenticeship programs and community college programs. California law allows unemployment insurance benefit recipients to attend job training and pursue an education, yet makes it difficult to access training programs and receive benefits at the same time. This bill will remove those barriers to allow unemployed workers to gain the skills necessary to find a stable job with good wages and benefits.
• Protect unemployed workers’ benefits (AB 2188 – Bradford). Unemployment benefits will soon be disbursed by direct deposit or by electronic pay cards. Pay cards will benefit “unbanked” workers who can avoid check-cashing fees and the risk of carrying cash. However, banks providing the paycard service should not profit off the benefits of unemployed workers. This bill will guarantee that laid off workers have adequate protection from hidden fees and can access adequate customer service and account information.