Fla. House Votes to Rename Unemployment Comp

The Florida House has voted to rename unemployment compensation as "reemployment assistance."

The chamber Friday unanimously passed a bill (HB 7027) that includes the name change. It next goes to the Senate where a similar bill (SB 1416) has been moving through committee.

Gov. Rick Scott's new Department of Economic Opportunity sought the change to "rebrand" and refocus Florida's unemployment compensation system.

Scott wants to add incentives for jobless workers to seek reemployment in order to continue receiving compensation.

To that end, the bill also would require claimants who receive low scores on a skills review to undergo workforce skills training at no expense to them.