BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 458

By: Seliger

Economic & Small Business Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, an individual who is discharged by an employer for misconduct or who leaves voluntarily without good cause can avoid a disqualification from unemployment insurance benefits by accepting temporary employment or a brief position outside the individual's normal job or occupation from which the individual is then laid off. S.B. 458 amends current law relating to initial claims under the unemployment compensation system to clarify definitions concerning the last employer of a person filing such a claim.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 458 amends the Labor Code to specify that the terms "last work" and "person for whom the claimant last worked," when used in connection with an initial claim for unemployment compensation benefits, refer to the last person for whom the claimant actually worked, if the claimant worked for that person for at least 30 hours during a week, or the employer, as defined by the unemployment laws of Texas or any other state, for whom the claimant last worked.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.