BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2443

By: González, Mary

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that an additional method is needed for filing a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission to conform to recent technological advances and better serve the public. H.B. 2443 seeks to address this need by including electronic filing among the acceptable wage claim filing methods.

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. 2443 amends the Labor Code to include electronic filing in a manner designated by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) by rule among the methods by which an employee who is not paid wages as prescribed by statutory provisions relating to the payment of wages may file a wage claim with the TWC. The bill requires the TWC, not later than December 1, 2017, to adopt rules for the administration of the electronic filing method. The bill's provisions apply only to a wage claim that is filed with the TWC on or after January 1, 2018.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.