88R1974 RDS-F

By: Springer S.B. No. 150

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable to an individual during a benefit year under the state unemployment insurance program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 207.0055 to read as follows:

Sec. 207.0055. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BENEFITS; SLIDING SCALE. (a) In this section, "state average unemployment rate" means the average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in this state, as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the most recent completed calendar year quarter preceding the first day of an individual's benefit year.

(b) The maximum amount of benefits payable to an eligible individual during a benefit year is an amount determined by the state average unemployment rate on a sliding scale as follows:

(1) 12 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is not greater than 5.5 percent;

(2) 13 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is at least 5.6 percent but not greater than 6 percent;

(3) 14 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is at least 6.1 percent but not greater than 6.5 percent;

(4) 15 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is at least 6.6 percent but not greater than 7 percent;

(5) 16 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is at least 7.1 percent but not greater than 7.5 percent;

(6) 17 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is at least 7.6 percent but not greater than 8 percent;

(7) 18 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is at least 8.1 percent but not greater than 8.5 percent;

(8) 19 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is at least 8.6 percent but not greater than 9 percent; and

(9) 20 times the individual's benefit amount, if the rate is greater than 9 percent.

SECTION 2. Section 215.043(a), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) An individual is not entitled to receive shared work benefits and regular unemployment compensation benefits that exceed the maximum total benefits payable to the individual in a benefit year as provided by Section 207.0055 [207.005].

SECTION 3. Section 207.005, Labor Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a claim for unemployment compensation benefits filed with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date of this Act. A claim filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.