BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1027
By: Oliveira
02-21-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Recent amendments to the Federal Social Security Act require state
employment agencies to use a worker profiling system.  The
profiling system attempts to identify claimants who are likely to
exhaust their unemployment benefits before finding another job. 
These individuals are referred to intensive reemployment services
by the Texas Employment Commission to enhance their job searches or
to enroll in job retraining programs.  A claimant referred to job
assistance services through the profiling system who does not
participate in those services would not be eligible for
unemployment benefits.

The federal provision requires state employment agencies to
disqualify claimants that refuse job assistance services.  Current
state law does not allow such a disqualification.  The Texas
unemployment system needs this provision to conform with federal
standards.

PURPOSE

This amendment is necessary for Texas law to conform with federal
requirements for disqualifying unemployment benefit claimants who
refuse job assistance services.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Adds a new subpart 8 to Section 207.021(a) of the Labor
Code which makes an additional eligibility requirement in order for
claimants to receive unemployment benefits.  The new subpart
provides that a claimant who has been identified through the TEC
profiling system and referred to job search assistance services
must attend and complete those offered services in order to receive
benefits.

SECTION 2.  Effective date September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 1027 was considered in a public hearing on February 20, 1995. 
Testifying on the bill was Martin Aguirre, representing the Texas
Employment Commission.  Testifying in favor of the bill was Walter
Hinojosa, representing the Texas AFL-CIO.  No one testified against
the bill.  A motion was made to report H.B. 1027 favorably to the
House, without amendment, with the recommendation that it be placed
on the consent calendar.  The motion prevailed by a vote of 7 Ayes,
0 Nays, 0 PNV, and 2 Absent.