BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2443
85R11214 SMT-D	By: Gonz�lez, Mary (Zaffirini)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	5/11/2017
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, Texas workers can submit claims for wages to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) only in person at their nearest TWC office, by mailing a wage claim to an address designated by TWC, or by faxing a claim to a fax number designated by TWC. With advances in technology, especially considering technological advances state agencies have adopted in recent years, TWC would better serve Texans by offering an electronic option for the public to submit wage claims.

 

Accordingly, H.B. 2443 would direct TWC, not later than December 1, 2017, to establish an agency rule authorizing the acceptance of wage claims by any electronic means designated by TWC. This would apply only to a wage claim that is filed on or after January 1, 2018.

 

H.B. 2443 amends current law relating to the electronic submission of a wage claim to the Texas Workforce Commission.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 61.051, Labor Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.051(d), Labor Code, as follows:

 

(d) Authorizes the employee to file the wage claim:

 

(1) and (2) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

 

(3) makes a nonsubstantive change;

 

(4)  electronically in a manner designated by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), by rule; or

 

(5) redesignates existing text under Subdivision (4) as Subdivision (5).

 

SECTION 2. Requires TWC, not later than December 1, 2017, to adopt rules for the administration of Section 61.051(d), Labor Code, as amended by this Act.

 

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective to January 1, 2018.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2017.