By Deshotel H.B. No. 1597
76R5925 JMM-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to computation of the maximum and minimum benefit amounts
1-3 for total unemployment under the unemployment compensation system.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 207.002, Labor Code, is amended to read
1-6 as follows:
1-7 Sec. 207.002. BENEFITS FOR TOTAL UNEMPLOYMENT. (a) An
1-8 eligible individual who is totally unemployed in a benefit period
1-9 is entitled to benefits for the benefit period at the rate of 1/25
1-10 of the wages received by the individual from employment by
1-11 employers during that quarter in the individual's base period in
1-12 which wages were highest. The rate of benefits paid under this
1-13 section may not be more than the maximum weekly benefit amount
1-14 computed under Subsection (b) [$84] or less than the minimum weekly
1-15 benefit amount computed under Subsection (b) [$15] for each benefit
1-16 period.
1-17 (b) The [For each complete increment of $10 by which the
1-18 annual average of the manufacturing production workers' average
1-19 weekly wage in this state exceeds the 1976 average weekly wage for
1-20 those workers, as determined by the commission and published in its
1-21 report, "The Average Weekly Wage," the] maximum weekly benefit
1-22 amount [established in Subsection (a)] is 52 percent of the average
1-23 weekly wage in covered employment in this state. The [increased by
1-24 $7 and the] minimum weekly benefit amount [established in
2-1 Subsection (a)] is seven percent of the average weekly wage in
2-2 covered employment in this state [increased by $1].
2-3 (c) The commission shall determine the average weekly wage
2-4 in covered employment and compute the maximum and minimum weekly
2-5 benefit amount not later than [for a claim filed on or after]
2-6 October 1 of each year by using the preceding quarterly report on
2-7 employment, wages, and contributions prepared by the commission as
2-8 required by federal law (ES 202 report)[, 1989, without
2-9 consideration of any increase in the average weekly wage for
2-10 manufacturing workers in this state for the years 1986 and 1987].
2-11 If a benefit amount computed under this subsection is not a
2-12 multiple of $1, the commission shall increase the amount to the
2-13 next multiple of $1.
2-14 (d) An increase in maximum and minimum benefit amounts under
2-15 this section takes effect on October 1 [following publication of
2-16 "The Average Weekly Wage" report].
2-17 (e) The maximum benefit amount payable to an individual for
2-18 a benefit period under this section on the effective date of a
2-19 valid claim is the maximum benefit amount payable to that
2-20 individual until the individual establishes a new benefit year.
2-21 (f) In this section, "wages" has the meaning assigned in
2-22 Subchapter F, Chapter 201, except that the limitation of wages
2-23 provided in Section 201.082(1) does not apply.
2-24 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
2-25 applies only to a computation of a benefit amount for total
2-26 unemployment that is made by the Texas Workforce Commission on or
2-27 after October 1, 1999. A benefit amount computed before October 1,
3-1 1999, is governed by the law in effect on the date that the benefit
3-2 amount was computed, and the former law is continued in effect for
3-3 that purpose.
3-4 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.