C.S.H.B. 1245 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1245 By: Hodge Economic Development Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, an individual may be disqualified for unemployment benefits from the state if the individual is unemployed due to a labor dispute occurring at another workplace. CSHB 1245 allows workers to receive unemployment benefits if locked out or placed on emergency leave due to a dispute involving an unrelated labor contract. 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 CSHB 1245 amends the Labor Code to remove language relating to circumstances in which and individual is disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance due to a labor dispute. CSHB 1245 amends the Labor Code to add that an individual is not disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance if that individual has been placed on emergency leave without pay, pursuant to a labor dispute. CSHB 1245 amends the Labor Code to provide that the payment of regular union dues does not constitute financing a labor dispute. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute removes being locked out from the list of provisions that do not disqualify an individual from receiving benefits. The substitute removes the definition of lockout and premises.