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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the determination of whether work is suitable for an |
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individual for the purpose of determining the individual's |
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unemployment compensation benefit eligibility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 207.008(b), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, |
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work is not suitable and benefits may not be denied under this |
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subtitle to an otherwise eligible individual for refusal to accept |
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new work if: |
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(1) the position offered is vacant directly because of |
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a strike, lockout, or other labor dispute; |
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(2) the wages, hours, or other conditions of the work |
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offered are substantially less favorable to the individual than |
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those prevailing for similar work in the locality; [or] |
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(3) as a condition of being employed, the individual |
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is required to join a company union or to resign from or refrain |
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from joining a bona fide labor organization; |
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(4) the place of performance of the work offered is in |
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violation of federal, state, or local protocols relating to the |
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spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19; or |
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(5) the work offered presents an unreasonable risk of |
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exposure to infectious diseases, including COVID-19, that cannot be |
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mitigated with reasonable care. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for unemployment compensation benefits filed with the |
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Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A claim filed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the claim was filed, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |