79R3630 KSD-F

By:  Deshotel                                                     H.B. No. 558



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the adoption of an alternative base period for 
computation of unemployment compensation benefits.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 201.011(1), Labor Code, is repealed.                       
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 201, Labor Code, is 
amended by adding Section 201.013 to read as follows:
	Sec. 201.013.  DEFINITION OF BASE PERIOD; ALTERNATE BASE 
PERIODS.  (a)  For purposes  of this subtitle and subject to this 
section, an individual's base period is the four consecutive 
completed calendar quarters, prescribed by the commission, in the 
five consecutive completed calendar quarters preceding the first 
day of an individual's benefit year.
	(b)  For an individual precluded because of a medically 
verifiable injury or illness from working during a major part of a 
calendar quarter of the period that would otherwise be the 
individual's base period under Subsection (a), the base period is 
the first four calendar quarters of the five consecutive calendar 
quarters preceding the calendar quarter in which the illness began 
or the injury occurred if the individual files an initial claim for 
benefits not later than 24 months after the date on which the 
individual's injury or illness began or occurred.
	(c)  For an individual who does not have sufficient benefit 
wage credits to qualify for benefits under the computation of the 
base period as provided by Subsection (a) or (b), the base period is 
the four most recently completed calendar quarters preceding the 
first day of the individual's benefit year.
	SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to eligibility for 
unemployment compensation benefits based on a claim that is filed 
with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date 
of this Act.  A claim filed before the effective date of this Act is 
governed by the law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and 
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.