(RALEIGH) -- Unemployment benefits are costing taxpayers millions. State Sen. Warren Daniel has filed a bill that would require those receiving jobless benefits to perform community service.

"The general provisions of the bill would require individuals, after they've received eight weeks of unemployment they would begin to thereafter to have to show to the Employment Security Commission that they had performed five hours of community service per week.  That provision continue until the 52nd week and after that the five hour requirement would go to 10," said Daniel.

He added that the measure will allow for the unemployed to use their skills to support their local neighborhood, city and state programs.