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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a temporary waiver of certain unemployment benefit |
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eligibility conditions during a public health disaster. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 207.0213 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 207.0213. TEMPORARY WAIVER OF CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY |
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CONDITIONS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER. (a) In this section, |
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"public health disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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81.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 207.021, during a statewide |
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public health disaster, the commission shall suspend the following |
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eligibility conditions to authorize an individual who is otherwise |
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eligible to receive benefits under this subtitle to receive those |
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benefits: |
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(1) the condition imposed under Section 207.021(a)(5) |
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that an individual be actively seeking work; and |
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(2) the condition imposed under Section 207.021(a)(8) |
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that an individual has been totally or partially unemployed for a |
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waiting period. |
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(c) The period of a suspension imposed under Subsection (b) |
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begins on the date the public health disaster is declared. The |
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commission may reinstate the conditions described by Subsections |
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(b)(1) and (2) only after the public health disaster expires. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |