ATLANTA (AP) - Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed a bill that expands
unemployment benefits in Georgia.

The new law makes the state eligible for $226 million of dollars in federal stimulus dollars for the state's unemployment insurance fund.

The new law provides another 13 weeks of unemployment benefits
in Georgia for those who've exhausted their 26 weeks of regular
benefits.

The additional benefits will be paid for with federal dollars.

The bill signed by Perdue on Tuesday also allows people seeking
part-time work to qualify for unemployment.

And some Georgians can also receive unemployment while in a training program, under the new law.

Perdue said the changes will cost the state less than $1.2 million a year.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)