California Gov. Gavin Newsom declined to say whether or not he will sign a bill that would give workers on the picket line unemployment benefits while stressing that either way, it would not impact those currently striking in his state. 

“I'm looking at that bill. I've got literally 1,000 bills on my desk,” Newsom said during an interview with CNN that aired on Monday. 

The Democratic governor argued the move was “not a solution” in the immediate term to the writers and actors currently picketing Hollywood studios in California as it would be months until it goes into effect. 

“Prospectively, it goes into effect in January,” Newsom sought to make clear. 

He added there are “complicating factors,” expressing concerns about California’s unemployment insurance fund, which is about $18 billion in debt after taking out loans from the federal government to pay benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Additionally, despite three years of record job growth, California estimates benefit payments will exceed tax collections by $1.1 billion this year. It’s the first time this has happened during a period of job growth, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.

“So, we'll take a look at that. But I want folks to understand, it has no direct correlation to what is happening,” he emphasized. 

Late last week, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 799, which would allow workers to receive unemployment benefits after being on strike for two weeks. Only New York and New Jersey currently have similar laws on the books. 

California law requires those collecting unemployment benefits to be actively seeking work. 

It comes toward the end of a summer dominated by several strikes in the state. The last few months in California have seen a variety of workers – from hotel housekeepers to Los Angeles city employees – take to the picket line. Hollywood writers and actors are still on strike against film studios and a possible strike of 85,000 health care workers at Kaiser Permanente is looming.