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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to suspension of the unemployment compensation waiting |
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period requirement during a disaster subject to a federal disaster |
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declaration. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 207.0212 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 207.0212. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS UNEMPLOYED |
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BECAUSE OF DISASTER. (a) In this section, "disaster unemployment |
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assistance benefits" means benefits authorized under Section 410, |
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Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 |
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U.S.C. Section 5177), and rules adopted under that section. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 207.021, the governor, by |
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executive order, may suspend the waiting period requirement imposed |
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under Section 207.021(a)(7) to authorize an individual to receive |
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benefits for that waiting period if the individual: |
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(1) is unemployed as a direct result of a natural |
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disaster that results in a disaster declaration by the president of |
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the United States under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and |
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Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.); |
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(2) is otherwise eligible for unemployment |
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compensation benefits under this subtitle; and |
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(3) is not receiving disaster unemployment assistance |
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benefits for the period included in that waiting period. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for unemployment compensation benefits 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 that date is governed by the law |
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in effect on the date that the claim was filed, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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