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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 extended |
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unemployment compensation benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 209.041, Labor Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 209.041. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXTENDED BENEFITS. (a) An |
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individual is eligible to receive extended benefits for a benefit |
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period of unemployment in the individual's eligibility period if, |
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with respect to the benefit period, the individual: |
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(1) has exhausted all regular benefits; |
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(2) satisfies the requirements of this subtitle for |
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the receipt of regular benefits that are applicable to an |
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individual claiming extended benefits, including not being |
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disqualified for the receipt of benefits; and |
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(3) has within the individual's base period received |
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benefit wage credits for employment by employers in an amount not |
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less than: |
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(A) 40 times the individual's weekly benefit |
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amount; or |
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(B) 1-1/2 times the individual's high-quarter |
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benefit wage credits. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an individual is also |
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eligible to receive extended benefits for a benefit period of |
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unemployment in the individual's eligibility period as provided by |
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Subchapter F. |
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SECTION 2. 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 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.) designed to |
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prepare individuals who have been separated from a declining |
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occupation or who have been involuntarily and indefinitely |
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separated from employment as a result of a permanent reduction of |
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operations at the individual's place of employment. |
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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 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for extended unemployment compensation benefits 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 4. 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. |