House Republican Press Release

April 25, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. D’Amelio: Senate Approves Bill Preserving Unemployment Compensation for Military Spouses

Legislation Now Goes to Governor Rell to be Signed into Law

The state Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill that will preserve eligibility for unemployment compensation to civilian spouses who leave their jobs to accompany their military husbands or wives when they are reassigned to out-of-state bases, state Representative Anthony J. D’Amelio said today.

The proposal (House Bill 5438), which passed the House April 16 on a vote of 145 – 0, also was approved unanimously by the state Senate Wednesday. The legislation, which will make eligibility for unemployment compensation permanent for civilian spouses who resign their jobs to relocate with their families, now goes to Governor Rell to be signed into law.

Under current law, civilian spouses who voluntarily leave their jobs to accompany their husbands or wives in the military to out-of-state bases when they receive orders to relocate were only eligible for unemployment compensation if they left their jobs between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008.

“Military families who depend on two paychecks to make ends meet can experience real hardship when the military spouse receives orders to redeploy to a base elsewhere in the country,” said Representative D’Amelio, R-71^st District, who cosponsored the bill. “Reassignment orders mean that civilian spouses have to resign their jobs to move with their families to new duty stations. Unemployment compensation can be essential to helping military families get through the financial strains that often accompany a move to an out-of-state base. The Senate’s action Wednesday was the right thing to do for Connecticut’s military families.”

“Preserving eligibility for unemployment compensation for civilian spouses who have little choice but to leave their jobs when their military spouses are reassigned will help keep families together by easing the strains on a marriage that financial problems can cause. The Connecticut General Assembly has once again demonstrated its strong support for the men and women in uniform whose courage and dedication keeps our country free,” Representative D’Amelio said.