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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to unemployment compensation benefits. |
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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 201.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.013. DEFINITION OF BASE PERIOD; ALTERNATE BASE |
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PERIODS. (a) For purposes of this subtitle and subject to this |
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section, an individual's base period is the four consecutive |
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completed calendar quarters, prescribed by the commission, in the |
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five consecutive completed calendar quarters preceding the first |
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day of an individual's benefit year. |
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(b) For an individual precluded because of a medically |
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verifiable injury or illness from working during a major part of a |
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calendar quarter of the period that would otherwise be the |
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individual's base period under Subsection (a), the base period is |
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the first four calendar quarters of the five consecutive calendar |
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quarters preceding the calendar quarter in which the illness began |
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or the injury occurred if the individual files an initial claim for |
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benefits not later than 24 months after the date on which the |
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individual's injury or illness began or occurred. |
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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) to read as follows: |
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(d) An individual is available for work for purposes of |
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Subsection (a)(4) even if the individual is available only for |
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part-time work if: |
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(1) the individual establishes to the satisfaction of |
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the commission that the individual has a legitimate reason to limit |
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the individual's employment to part-time work; and |
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(2) the individual's last work was part-time work. |
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SECTION 3. Section 207.045(d), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an |
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individual who is available to work may not be disqualified for |
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benefits because the individual left work because of: |
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(1) a medically verified illness of the individual or |
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the individual's minor child; |
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(2) injury; |
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(3) disability; |
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(4) pregnancy; |
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(5) an involuntary separation as described by Section |
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207.046; [or] |
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(6) a move from the area of the individual's employment |
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that: |
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(A) was made with the individual's spouse who is |
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a member of the armed forces of the United States; and |
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(B) resulted from the spouse's permanent change |
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of station of longer than 120 days or a tour of duty of longer than |
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one year; or |
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(7) a move to a location from which it is impractical |
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for the individual to commute that: |
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(A) was made with the individual's spouse who is |
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not a member of the armed forces of the United States; and |
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(B) resulted from a change in the location of the |
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spouse's employment. |
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SECTION 4. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Section 201.011(1), Labor Code; and |
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(2) Section 207.045(c), Labor Code. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits based on a claim |
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that is filed with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A claim filed before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the claim |
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was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |