HBA-EDN H.B. 318 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 318
By: Tillery
Economic Development
2/23/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, an individual may be disqualified for unemployment
benefits if the individual is unemployed due to a labor dispute occurring
at another workplace.  House Bill 318 allows workers to receive
unemployment benefits if locked out or placed on emergency leave due to a
dispute involving an unrelated labor contract. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 318 amends the Labor Code to remove provisions that disqualify
an individual for unemployment benefits for a benefit period in which the
individual's unemployment is caused by a labor dispute at another place
that is owned or operated by or that supplies necessary material or
services to the employing unit where the individual is or was last
employed.  The bill provides that disqualification for unemployment
benefits does not apply to an individual who shows to the satisfaction of
the Texas Workforce Commission that the individual has been locked out of
the individual's place of employment or has been placed on emergency leave
without pay by the individual's employer.  The bill also provides that the
payment of regular union dues by an individual does not constitute
financing of a labor dispute and does not disqualify an individual for
unemployment benefits.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.