BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2060

By: Oliveira

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that certain eligibility requirements for a person to be an ombudsman designated by the office of injured employee counsel are too restrictive and that, as a result, the office has experienced difficulty filling open positions. H.B. 2060 seeks to make finding a qualified applicant easier by removing the requirement relating to demonstrated workers' compensation experience.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 2060 amends the Labor Code to remove having at least one year of demonstrated experience in the field of workers' compensation as an eligibility requirement for designation as an ombudsman by the office of injured employee counsel under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.