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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the wages credited to an individual for the purpose of |
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computing the individual's unemployment compensation benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 207.002, Labor Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) An eligible individual who is totally unemployed in a |
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benefit period is entitled to benefits for the benefit period at the |
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rate of 1/25 of the wages received by the individual from |
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employment by employers during that quarter in the individual's |
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base period in which wages were highest. For purposes of this |
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subsection, the wages received by the individual from employment by |
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employers during the individual's base period include wages ordered |
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to be paid to the individual by a final order of the commission |
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under Chapter 61 that: |
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(1) were due to be paid to the individual by an |
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employer during the individual's base period; and |
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(2) will be credited to the date or dates on which the |
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payment of those wages was due. |
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(a-1) The commission by rule shall determine the method of |
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crediting wages to a particular quarter for purposes of Subsection |
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(a). |
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(a-2) The rate of benefits paid under this section may not |
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be more than the maximum weekly benefit amount computed under |
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Subsection (b) or less than the minimum weekly benefit amount |
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computed under Subsection (b) for each benefit period. |
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SECTION 2. Section 207.004, Labor Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The commission shall credit as benefit wage credits |
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during an individual's base period: |
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(1) [an individual's] wages the individual received |
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for employment from an employer during the individual's base |
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period; and |
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(2) wages ordered to be paid by a final order issued by |
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the commission under Chapter 61 that: |
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(A) were due to be paid by an employer during the |
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individual's base period; and |
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(B) will be credited to the date or dates on which |
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the payment of those wages was due [as the individual's benefit wage
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credits]. |
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(a-1) The commission by rule shall determine the method of |
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crediting wages to an individual's base period for purposes of |
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Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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eligibility for unemployment benefits based on an unemployment |
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compensation claim that is filed with the Texas Workforce |
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Commission on or after the effective date of this Act. A claim |
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filed before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date |
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the claim was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |