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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the computation of unemployment compensation benefits |
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for an individual who is totally unemployed in a benefit period. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 207.002(a), (b), and (c-1), Labor Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An eligible individual who is totally unemployed in a |
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benefit period is entitled to benefits for the benefit period at the |
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rate of 2/43 [1/25] of the wages received by the individual from |
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employment by employers during that quarter in the individual's |
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base period in which wages were highest. For purposes of this |
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subsection, the wages received by the individual from employment by |
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employers during the individual's base period include wages ordered |
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to be paid to the individual by a final order of the commission |
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under Chapter 61 that: |
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(1) were due to be paid to the individual by an |
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employer during the individual's base period; and |
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(2) will be credited to the date or dates on which the |
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payment of those wages was due. |
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(b) The maximum weekly benefit amount is 60 [47.6] percent |
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of the average weekly wage in covered employment in this state. The |
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minimum weekly benefit amount is 15 [7.6] percent of the average |
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weekly wage in covered employment in this state. |
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(c-1) An increase in the maximum weekly benefit amount may |
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not exceed $14 in any year. An increase in the minimum weekly |
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benefit amount may not exceed $1 in any year. The limitations |
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prescribed by this subsection apply only to an increase that is |
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caused solely by an increase in the average weekly wage in covered |
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employment in this state. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a claim for unemployment compensation benefits filed with the Texas |
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Workforce Commission on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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claim filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect October 1, 2021. |