Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to a bill that would link the duration of jobless benefits to the state's unemployment rate.
Workers who lose their jobs currently can collect unemployment benefits for 20 weeks. Under the bill, 20 weeks of benefits would be available if the state's average unemployment rate is at least 9 percent.
The maximum duration of jobless benefits would decrease one week for each one-half percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. The minimum duration would be 13 weeks when the jobless rate is less than 6 percent.
House members approved the measure 101-49 on Wednesday. It passed the Senate 24-8 last month, and the measure now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon.
