Bill To Give NC Returning Workers Bonuses Approved By Senate

The state Senate has voted for a bill that would give bonuses to North Carolina’s unemployment benefit recipients who get a job soon — but Congress would have to sign off, too. The measure approved Tuesday would provide $1,500 to people who accept reemployment within 30 days of the bonus program starting. The bonus would drop to $800 at 30 days. The bonuses would come from federal funds that have raised individual unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill proponent Sen. Chuck Edwards said Congress would have to pass a law before the money could be used in that way.