By Deshotel, Dukes H.B. No. 567
77R10739 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. Sections 207.002(a)-(d), Labor Code, are amended
1-6 to read as follows:
1-7 (a) An eligible individual who is totally unemployed in a
1-8 benefit period is entitled to benefits for the benefit period at
1-9 the rate of 1/25 of the wages received by the individual from
1-10 employment by employers during that quarter in the individual's
1-11 base period in which wages were highest. The rate of benefits paid
1-12 under this section may not be more than the maximum weekly benefit
1-13 amount computed under Subsection (b) [$84] or less than the minimum
1-14 weekly benefit amount computed under Subsection (b) [$15] for each
1-15 benefit period.
1-16 (b) The [For each complete increment of $10 by which the
1-17 annual average of the manufacturing production workers' average
1-18 weekly wage in this state exceeds the 1976 average weekly wage for
1-19 those workers, as determined by the commission and published in its
1-20 report, "The Average Weekly Wage," the] maximum weekly benefit
1-21 amount [established in Subsection (a)] is 47.6 percent of the
1-22 average weekly wage in covered employment in this state. The
1-23 [increased by $7 and the] minimum weekly benefit amount
1-24 [established in Subsection (a)] is 7.6 percent of the average
2-1 weekly wage in covered employment in this state [increased by $1].
2-2 (c) The commission shall determine the average weekly wage
2-3 in covered employment and compute the maximum and minimum weekly
2-4 benefit amount not later than [for a claim filed on or after]
2-5 October 1 of each year based on the annual average weekly wage for
2-6 the preceding year[, 1989, without consideration of any increase in
2-7 the average weekly wage for manufacturing workers in this state for
2-8 the years 1986 and 1987]. If a benefit amount computed under this
2-9 subsection is not a multiple of $1, the commission shall increase
2-10 the amount to the next multiple of $1.
2-11 (d) An increase in maximum and minimum benefit amounts under
2-12 this section takes effect on October 1 [following publication of
2-13 "The Average Weekly Wage" report].
2-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
2-15 applies only to a computation of a benefit amount for total
2-16 unemployment that is made by the Texas Workforce Commission on or
2-17 after October 1, 2001. A benefit amount computed before October 1,
2-18 2001, is governed by the law in effect on the date that the benefit
2-19 amount was computed, and the former law is continued in effect for
2-20 that purpose.