Gov. Patrick Signs Bill To Help Unemployed
BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick has signed legislation to ensure unemployed workers who exhaust their state benefits remain eligible for federally-funded benefit extensions.
Patrick signed the bill Friday, saying it will help continue the state's economic recovery, which he said has been faster than most states.
Before the legislation, Massachusetts residents potentially could have lost eligibility for the extensions as early as next month.
The state's labor secretary, Joanne Goldstein, said the extensions help residents continue their job searches and pay for basic necessities.
The Massachusetts unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in February, compared with the national average of 8.9 percent.
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