By Deshotel                                            H.B. No. 567
         77R864 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 52 percent of the average
1-22     weekly wage in covered employment in this state.  The [increased by
1-23     $7 and the] minimum weekly benefit amount [established in
1-24     Subsection (a)] is seven percent of the average weekly wage in
 2-1     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 by using the preceding quarterly report on
 2-6     employment, wages, and contributions prepared by the commission as
 2-7     required by federal law (ES 202 report)[, 1989, without
 2-8     consideration of any increase in the average weekly wage for
 2-9     manufacturing workers in this state for the years 1986 and 1987].
2-10     If a benefit amount computed under this subsection is not a
2-11     multiple of $1, the commission shall increase the amount to the
2-12     next multiple of $1.
2-13           (d)  An increase in maximum and minimum benefit amounts under
2-14     this section takes effect on October 1 [following publication of
2-15     "The Average Weekly Wage" report].
2-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
2-17     applies only to a computation of a benefit amount for total
2-18     unemployment that is made by the Texas Workforce Commission on or
2-19     after October 1, 2001.  A benefit amount computed before October 1,
2-20     2001, is governed by the law in effect on the date that the benefit
2-21     amount was computed, and the former law is continued in effect for
2-22     that purpose.