SRC-TBR H.B. 694 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 694
By: Yarbrough (Van de Putte)
Business & Commerce
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law a person who participates in reemployment services, such
as a job search assistance, is eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
There is currently no provision that allows for a blind individual, after
completion of training and rehabilitation, to work for a workshop and still
be eligible for unemployment benefits.  H.B. 694 allows a blind individual
to remain eligible for unemployment benefits while the person works at a
sheltered workshop.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

H.B. 694 amends the Labor Code to provide that, for purposes of determining
eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits, "employment" does not
include services performed by a blind individual while in training at a
sheltered workshop operated by a charitable organization (workshop) under a
rehabilitation program.  The bill provides that "employment" includes
services performed by a blind individual who, after training, works
temporarily for a workshop while awaiting employment in the competitive
labor market or permanently for a workshop because the individual is unable
to compete in the competitive labor market. 

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 2001.