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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility of certain job trainees for unemployment |
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compensation training benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 207, Labor Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H. TRAINING BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED |
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IN CERTAIN TRAINING PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 207.121. ELIGIBILITY FOR TRAINING BENEFITS. (a) |
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an individual |
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is entitled to training benefits as provided by this subchapter if |
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the individual: |
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(1) is unemployed due to a separation from a declining |
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occupation or due to an involuntary and indefinite separation from |
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employment resulting from a permanent reduction of operations at |
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the individual's place of employment; |
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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 under |
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Section 207.022 or a job training program under the Workforce |
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Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.). |
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(b) To qualify for training benefits, an individual must |
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enroll in a training program described by Subsection (a)(3) not |
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later than the end of the benefit year applicable to the separation |
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described by Subsection (a)(1). |
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Sec. 207.122. DURATION AND AMOUNT OF TRAINING BENEFITS. |
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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an |
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eligible individual under Section 207.121 is entitled to receive |
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training 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 training benefits payable to an eligible |
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individual under Section 207.121 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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(c) Training benefits under this subchapter are payable for |
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a period not to exceed one year after the expiration of a benefit |
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year applicable to a separation described by Section 207.121(a)(1). |
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(d) The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this subchapter. |
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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 filed with the |
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Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date of this |
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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 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |