1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to enforcement by the Texas Workforce Commission of
 1-3     certain laws regarding unemployment compensation.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 204.001, Labor Code, is amended to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           Sec. 204.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "manual" means
 1-8     the North American [Standard] Industrial Classification System
 1-9     Manual published by the United States Office of Management and
1-10     Budget.
1-11           SECTION 2. Section 204.086(b), Labor Code, is amended to read
1-12     as follows:
1-13           (b)  If not paid, the commission may bring an action under
1-14     Chapter 213 [suit] for the collection of a contribution, a penalty,
1-15     or interest as though the contribution, penalty, or interest had
1-16     been incurred by the successor employer.
1-17           SECTION 3. Section 213.025, Labor Code, is amended to read as
1-18     follows:
1-19           Sec. 213.025.  ADDITIONAL INTEREST ON JUDGMENT OR FINAL
1-20     ASSESSMENT FOR PAST DUE CONTRIBUTION. For a judgment or final
1-21     assessment that grants recovery of the amount of a contribution and
1-22     the amount of interest computed at the maximum rate permitted under
1-23     Section 213.021(a), the part of the judgment or final assessment
1-24     for the amount of the contribution earns additional interest at the
 2-1     rate of one percent for each month or part of a month it remains
 2-2     unpaid.
 2-3           SECTION 4. Section 213.032(e), Labor Code, is amended to read
 2-4     as follows:
 2-5           (e)  An assessment that is not contested by the employer or
 2-6     that is upheld after judicial review has the effect of a final
 2-7     judgment of a district court and shall be recorded, enforced, and
 2-8     renewed in the same manner.  An assessment described by this
 2-9     subsection is a final assessment.
2-10           SECTION 5. Sections 213.033(b) and (c), Labor Code, are
2-11     amended to read as follows:
2-12           (b)  The following actions [proceedings] suspend the running
2-13     of the limitations period prescribed under Subsection (a):
2-14                 (1)  an administrative hearing [proceeding] to
2-15     redetermine the liability for a contribution, a penalty, or
2-16     interest pending before the commission; and
2-17                 (2)  a bankruptcy case [proceeding] begun under Title
2-18     11 of the United States Code pending before the court.
2-19           (c)  After a hearing or case [proceeding] described by
2-20     Subsection (b) is closed [concluded], the running of the
2-21     limitations period prescribed under Subsection (a) resumes.
2-22           SECTION 6. Section 213.051(a), Labor Code, is amended to read
2-23     as follows:
2-24           (a)  After a judgment is entered against an employer for a
2-25     contribution, a penalty, or interest or an assessment against an
2-26     employer under this chapter is final and execution returned
2-27     unsatisfied, an employer liable for the unpaid judgment or final
 3-1     assessment may not employ an individual in this state until the
 3-2     employer furnishes a surety bond.
 3-3           SECTION 7. (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 3-4           (b)  The changes in law made by this Act by the amendment of
 3-5     Sections 213.025 and 213.051, Labor Code, apply only to a final
 3-6     assessment issued on or after the effective date of this Act.  A
 3-7     final assessment issued before the effective date of this Act is
 3-8     governed by the law in effect on the date the assessment was
 3-9     issued, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
3-10           (c)  Section 204.001, Labor Code, as amended by this Act,
3-11     applies only to a claim for unemployment compensation benefits that
3-12     is filed with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the
3-13     effective date of this Act.  A claim filed before that date is
3-14     governed by the law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and
3-15     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1103 was passed by the House on April
         5, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
         No. 1103 on May 15, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0,
         1 present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1103 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 10, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays
         0, 1 present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor