BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1801

By: Zaffirini

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to modernize the Texas Workforce Commission's (TWC) capacity to receive the repayment of unemployment benefits issued in error. Currently, the TWC only accepts repayment via mailed checks and money orders. S.B. 1801 seeks to provide this modernization by requiring the TWC to accept additional payment methods such as cashier's check, debit card, electronic check, and electronic funds transfer and to accept payment through the mail and by Internet.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1801 amends the Labor Code to authorize the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to recover improperly obtained unemployment compensation benefits by collecting a refund from a claimant. The bill requires the TWC to accept payment for such a refund, or a refund of benefits paid that are not in accordance with a final decision concerning a disputed claim, by personal check, cashier's check, money order, debit card, electronic check, or electronic funds transfer. The bill requires the TWC to accept those payments through the mail and by Internet, as applicable. The bill authorizes the TWC to adopt rules to accept forms of payment not listed by the bill.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.