By Elkins                                             H.B. No. 1931
         77R4548 JMM-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to certain disqualifications from eligibility for
 1-3     unemployment benefits.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 207.047, Labor Code, is amended by
 1-6     amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
 1-7     follows:
 1-8           (a)  An individual is disqualified for benefits if during the
 1-9     individual's current benefit year, the individual failed, without
1-10     good cause, to:
1-11                 (1)  apply for available, suitable work when directed
1-12     to do so by the commission;
1-13                 (2)  accept suitable work offered to the individual;
1-14     [or]
1-15                 (3)  return to the individual's customary
1-16     self-employment, if any, when directed to do so by the commission;
1-17     or
1-18                 (4)  make at least five job contacts in each week for
1-19     which benefits are claimed.
1-20           (c)  For purposes of Subsection (a), the commission may
1-21     direct the individual to maintain, for at least two years, records
1-22     regarding the individual's search for employment, including a list
1-23     showing each job contact made during each week for which benefits
1-24     are claimed and documentation of each contact.  The commission by
 2-1     rule shall specify the form for the list of job contacts and define
 2-2     the types of documents that serve as documentation of a job
 2-3     contact.  The commission by rule shall define the nature of the job
 2-4     contacts that satisfy the requirement of Subsection (a)(4).
 2-5           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 2-6           (b)  The change in law made by this Act applies to
 2-7     eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits based on an
 2-8     unemployment compensation claim that is filed with the Texas
 2-9     Workforce Commission on or after the effective date of this Act.  A
2-10     claim filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by
2-11     the law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and the former
2-12     law is continued in effect for that purpose.