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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption of modernizations to unemployment |
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compensation benefit eligibility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 201, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 201.011(1)(c) to read as follows: |
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(c) For an individual who does not have sufficient benefit |
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wage credits to qualify for benefits under the computation of the |
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base period as provided by Subsection (a) or (b), the base period is |
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the four most recently completed calendar quarters preceding the |
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first day of the individual's benefit year. |
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SECTION 2. Section 207.021, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(d) "Part-time work" means work having comparable hours to |
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the individual's work in the individual's base period, except that |
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an individual must be available for at least 20 hours of work per |
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week and available for hours that are comparable to the |
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individual's work at the time of the individual's most recent |
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separation from employment. |
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(e) An individual is available for work for purposes of |
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Subsection (a)(4) if the individual is seeking only part-time work, |
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unless the majority of the weeks worked by the individual during the |
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individual's base period do not include part-time work. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 209, Labor Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. EXTENDED BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED |
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IN CERTAIN TRAINING PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 209.101. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXTENDED BENEFITS. |
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an individual |
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is entitled to extended benefits as provided by this subchapter if |
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the individual: |
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(1) is unemployed: |
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(2) has exhausted all regular benefits; and |
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(3) is enrolled in, and making satisfactory progress |
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toward completion of, a commission-approved training program or a |
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job training program under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 |
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U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) designed to prepare individuals who |
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have been separated from a declining occupation or who have been |
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involuntary and indefinitely separated from employment as a result |
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of a permanent reduction of operations at the individual's place of |
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employment for entry into a high-demand occupation. |
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Sec. 209.102. DURATION AND AMOUNT OF EXTENDED BENEFITS. |
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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an |
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eligible individual under Section 209.101 is entitled to receive |
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extended benefits under this subchapter until the earlier of: |
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(1) the date the individual completes the training |
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program; or |
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(2) the expiration of 26 additional benefit periods. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, |
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the weekly amount of extended benefits payable to an eligible |
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individual under Section 209.101 is an amount equal to the |
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individual's average weekly benefit amount for the most recent |
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benefit year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies only to eligibility for |
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unemployment compensation benefits based on a claim that is filed |
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with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. A claim filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on September 1, 2009. |