81R6025 KSD-D

By: Burnam H.B. No. 1072

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to unemployment compensation benefit eligibility.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 207.021, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) An individual is available for work for purposes of Subsection (a)(4) even if the individual is available only for part-time work unless the majority of the weeks worked by the individual during the individual's base period did not include part-time work.

SECTION 2. Chapter 209, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subchapter F to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F. EXTENDED BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED

IN CERTAIN TRAINING PROGRAMS

Sec. 209.101. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXTENDED BENEFITS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an individual is entitled to extended benefits as provided by this subchapter if the individual:

(1) is unemployed;

(2) has exhausted all regular benefits; and

(3) is enrolled in, and making satisfactory progress toward completion of, a commission-approved training program or a job training program under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) designed to prepare individuals who have been separated from a declining occupation or who have been involuntarily and indefinitely separated from employment as a result of a permanent reduction of operations at the individual's place of employment for entry into a high-demand occupation.

Sec. 209.102. DURATION AND AMOUNT OF EXTENDED BENEFITS. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an eligible individual under Section 209.101 is entitled to receive extended benefits under this subchapter until the earlier of:

(1) the date the individual completes the training program; or

(2) the expiration of 26 additional benefit periods.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the weekly amount of extended benefits payable to an eligible individual under Section 209.101 is an amount equal to the individual's average weekly benefit amount for the most recent benefit year.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.