05/11/2009 GAAS:232:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Praises Passage of Legislation to Help Laid Off Californians
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after
the passage of AB
23 by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), a bill allowing workers
laid off from small businesses to receive federal aid for health insurance from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act).
"We are working around the clock to ensure Recovery Act funding is pumped
into our economy quickly and effectively to help California's unemployed. I
look forward to signing this bill and by doing so, we'll offer Californians
laid off during this national economic downturn an affordable opportunity to
keep their health care coverage."
AB
23 will ensure that Californians who lose their jobs through layoff or
other involuntary termination while working for a small employer (two - 19
employees) are notified they may be eligible for a 65 percent subsidy under the
federal stimulus bill to help them pay for and keep their health insurance. Employees
of larger companies already qualify. It also gives those who lost their jobs on
September 1, 2008 through February 16th and did not elect to
continue their health insurance under Cal-COBRA the ability to seek that
coverage now with a significant federal subsidy.
