LANSING – A special summer session of the state Senate passed a bill that will limit welfare benefits in Michigan to 48 months by a tally of 24-12. 

It was opposed by a voting bloc of Democrats before passing. The limit previously only applied to the the state’s Work First program according to The Detroit News and to those in an area where the Jobs, Education and Training program is available. An estimated 12,600 families will be taken off welfare on Oct. 1 according to the report, saving the state about $77.4 million. The house had already passed the bill and will have to agree with changes made; Gov. Rick Snyder also must sign it. An amendment designed to exempt those living in counties where unemployment is 25% or more higher than the state rate was unsuccessful, however. Many, especially Democrats, feel that the bill could be devastating for lower-income families. Exemptions were included to allow the Department of Human Services to waive the cap for some recipients and to raise the amount families can earn while receiving benefits.