The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission can utilise the funds to pay unemployment benefits
The US Department of Labor has certified the release of $75,886,483 in unemployment insurance modernisation incentive (UIMI) funds to the state of Oklahoma, reported Interactive Web.
Oklahoma qualified for its full share of funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), by providing variety of provisions that aids recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers, and unemployed people.
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission can utilise the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or delivering employment services.
The Recovery Act made a total of $7 billion available in UI modernisation incentive payments to states that include certain eligibility provisions in their UI programs. Each state can qualify for a share of those funds by showing that its law includes those provisions.
Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor, said: Oklahoma recognises the importance of having a UI program that better meets the requirements of the 21st century workforce.”