Bill would cut waits at the RI labor department

PROVIDENCE -- The House Finance Committee held a hearing on a bill that would pay for more staff at the state Department of Labor and Training, where persons qualified for unemployment benefits have had to wait days to get a response.

The bill, filed by Rep. Arthur Handy, D-Cranston, would establish a trust fund to hire more staff and pay for tuition for unemployed persons at the state colleges and university.

The bill would set aside $8 million for 2014 and 2015, and $5 million per year beginning with 2016.