BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1665

By: Patterson

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that certain reporting requirements pertaining to the division of workers’ compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance may have become unnecessary. H.B. 1665 seeks to address this issue by requiring a certain notification relating to independent subcontractor status only on the division's request.

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. 1665 amends the Labor Code to require a hiring contractor and an independent subcontractor who have filed a joint agreement with the division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance declaring that the subcontractor is an independent contractor to notify the division, only on the division's request, if a subsequent hiring agreement is made to which that joint agreement does not apply.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.