HBA-EDN H.B. 2213 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2213
By: Deshotel
Economic Development
3/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

For the past several years, fewer unemployed workers have been collecting
unemployment insurance benefits.  More workers would be eligible for
benefits if states were to compute benefits based on an alternative base
period calculation.  Currently, base periods in most states are defined as
the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters.  Depending on
when a claim for benefits is filed and how the state defines its base
period, the quarters considered may include wages earned as much as 18
months back. Using an alternative base period, a claimant is allowed to
have considered the wages earned in the most recently completed calendar
quarter.  House Bill 2213 allows benefits to be computed based on an
alternative base period.       

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 2213 amends the Labor Code to provide that, for an individual
who does not have sufficient benefit wage credits to qualify for
unemployment benefits under the computation of the base period as provided
by this bill, the base period is the four most recently completed calendar
quarters preceding the first day of the individual's benefit year.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 1999.