By: Springer  S.B. No. 150
         (In the Senate - Filed November 14, 2022; February 15, 2023,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources &
  Economic Development; April 26, 2023, reported adversely, with
  favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5,
  Nays 4; April 26, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 150 By:  Zaffirini
 
 
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;
               (9)  20 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
  rate is greater than 9 percent but not greater than 9.5 percent;
               (10)  21 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
  rate is at least 9.6 percent but not greater than 10 percent; and
               (11)  27 times the individual's benefit amount, if the
  rate is greater than 10 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.
 
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