South Dakota has become the first state to pass legislation and be certified to receive unemployment insurance modernization funds from the federal stimulus package.

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis (Soh-LEES) congratulated Gov. Mike Rounds on the approval during a telephone call.

The South Dakota Legislature recently passed a law letting jobless people use more recent time periods to qualify for unemployment benefits.

That means the state can get $5.9 million from the stimulus package. The extra money will delay a surcharge on employers that takes effect when the unemployment fund falls below a certain level.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.