The state Senate preliminarily approved a bill that would cut the number of weeks people can receive unemployment benefits.

When unemployment is below 5%, the bill would cut the current 24 weeks to 12. It would add one week gradually depending on the jobless rate at the time, but eventually cap the payments at 20 weeks. 

Democratic Sen. Brian Fernandez opposed the measure. 

"But the problem is the job doesn't just magically appear. You have to apply. And for applying for work on that level is a full-time job. It takes a lot of time to answer the questions, to go through the battery of these tests," he said.

The bill needs a final Senate vote before advancing to the state House.