AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Recent changes in federal law authorized the United States secretary of labor to waive federal provisions that limited the use of money in each state's respective account in the federal unemployment trust fund. Texas law does not currently grant the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) specific authorization to participate in demonstration projects for the reemployment of individuals that may be authorized by federal statute or by the U.S. secretary of labor.
H.B. 3005 amends the Labor Code to authorize the Texas Workforce Commission, under an agreement with or waiver by the U.S. secretary of labor, to use money requisitioned from Texas's account in the federal unemployment trust fund to conduct demonstration projects for the reemployment of unemployed individuals in the manner prescribed by that agreement or waiver and consistent with any applicable requirements under federal law.
H.B. 3005 amends current law relating to the authority of the Texas Workforce Commission to use certain unemployment compensation funds for reemployment activities.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 203.025, Labor Code, by adding Subsection (c), as follows:
(c) Authorizes the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), notwithstanding Subsections (a) (relating to requiring TWC to direct the administration of the compensation fund exclusively for the purposes of this subtitle) and (b) (relating to authorizing that money requisitioned from this state's account in the federal trust fund be used only for the payment of benefits or for refunds under certain provisions except that money credited to this state's account as provided by Section 903, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1103), be requisitioned and used by TWC only to the extent and under the conditions prescribed by that section) or any other provision of this subtitle (Texas Unemployment Compensation Act) or other law, under an agreement with or waiver by the United States secretary of labor, to use money requisitioned from this state's account in the federal trust fund to conduct demonstration projects for the reemployment of unemployed individuals in the manner prescribed by that agreement or waiver and consistent with any applicable requirements under federal law. Requires TWC to provide to the legislative standing committees with primary jurisdiction over TWC any evaluation reports required by the United States Department of Labor for a reemployment demonstration project.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.