H.B. 4 78(2)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 4
By: Swinford
Government Reform
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Property Code does not address the issue of unclaimed
wages and therefore there is no system to return those unclaimed wages to
the Comptroller of Public Accounts.   

House Bill 4 sets forth qualifications for unclaimed wages.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Section 72.101(a), Property Code, is amended to include
Section 72.1015. 

SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 72, Property Code, is amended by adding
Section 72.1015,                         UNCLAIMED WAGES. 

(a)  Clarifies the definition of "wages" as the meaning assigned in
Section 61.001, Labor Code. 

 (b)  Unclaimed wages are presumed abandoned if, longer than one year:
(1) The existence and location of the person wages are owed is not known
to the wage holder. 
(2) A claim to the wages has not been asserted or an act of ownership of
wages has not been exercised to the knowledge and record of the holder of
the wages. 

SECTION 3.  Makes conforming changes.

SECTION 4.  Makes conforming changes.

SECTION 5.  Makes conforming changes.

SECTION 6.  Repeals Subchapter G, Chapter 61, Labor Code, as added by
House Bill No. 826, Acts           of the 78th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2003. 

SECTION 7.  Effective Date: Upon passage or December 1, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage or December 1, 2003.