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.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 567 was passed by the House on May 5,
         2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 567 was passed by the Senate on May
         22, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor