Unemployment-Misconduct

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Workers fired for misconduct could not collect any unemployment benefits under legislation approved unanimously in the Senate. The Senate voted 40-0 on Wednesday on a bill that would automatically deny benefits for misconduct. It allows exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. The Department of Employment and Workforce paid out $50 million in unemployment benefits to fired workers last fiscal year. Their benefits are now reduced depending on the type of misconduct and severity, from five weeks up to complete disqualification of all 20 weeks. State law says workers fired for gross misconduct such as theft and drug use can’t get benefits. But Republican Sen. Kevin Bryant says the agency isn’t following that law and abusing its discretion on the range of weeks. The bill requires another vote before heading to the House.