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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a temporary waiver of certain unemployment benefit |
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eligibility conditions and of the recovery of certain improper |
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benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 207.0213 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 207.0213. TEMPORARY WAIVER OF CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY |
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CONDITIONS. (a) Notwithstanding Section 207.021, if the commission |
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finds that in any seven-day period the number of initial claims |
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filed under this subtitle is more than five times the number of |
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initial claims filed under this subtitle in the preceding seven-day |
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period, the commission shall suspend for a period of 30 days the |
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following eligibility conditions to authorize an individual who is |
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otherwise eligible to receive benefits under this subtitle to |
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receive those benefits: |
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(1) the condition imposed under Section 207.021(a)(5) |
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that an individual be actively seeking work; and |
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(2) the condition imposed under Section 207.021(a)(8) |
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that an individual have been totally or partially unemployed for a |
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waiting period. |
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(b) The period of a suspension imposed under Subsection (a) |
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begins on the first day of the seven-day period in which the |
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increased number of initial claims were filed. |
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SECTION 2. Section 214.002, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) and except as |
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otherwise provided by this subsection, if the commission finds that |
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in any seven-day period the number of initial claims filed under |
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this subtitle is more than five times the number of initial claims |
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filed under this subtitle in the preceding seven-day period, the |
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commission may not seek to recover the amount of any improper |
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benefits received during the 30-day period beginning on the first |
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day of the seven-day period in which the increased number of initial |
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claims were filed. This subsection does not apply to improper |
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benefits obtained by a person due to a nondisclosure or |
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misrepresentation that is known or fraudulent. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |