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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on updating Texas Workforce Commission |
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technology for administering benefits under the Unemployment |
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Compensation Act. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY ON UPDATED TECHNOLOGY FOR ADMINISTERING |
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BENEFITS UNDER UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION ACT. (a) In this |
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section, "commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission. |
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(b) The commission shall contract with a qualified |
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independent entity to conduct a study on implementing updated |
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technology that relies less on staff to process claims for |
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unemployment benefits. The study must evaluate: |
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(1) how updated technology would improve the |
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commission's processes for: |
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(A) a claimant to file claims for benefits under |
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Section 208.001, Labor Code, paid through the commission; |
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(B) a claimant to provide additional information |
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requested by the commission in relation to a claim for benefits; |
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(C) the commission to provide notice to a |
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claimant of the commission's determination of an initial claim |
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under Section 208.022, Labor Code; |
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(D) a claimant to request a redetermination of |
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the commission's determination of the validity of an initial claim |
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under Section 208.023, Labor Code; |
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(E) a claimant to appeal the commission's |
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determination of the validity of an initial claim in the manner |
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provided by Chapter 212, Labor Code; |
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(F) the commission to provide notice to a |
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claimant regarding the status of a request for redetermination or |
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an appeal; |
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(G) a claimant to submit requests for benefit |
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payments; |
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(H) the commission to provide notice to a |
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claimant that the claimant is nearing the maximum amount of |
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benefits allowed under Section 207.005, Labor Code; and |
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(I) the commission to provide notice to a |
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claimant that the claimant is eligible for extended benefits under |
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Section 209.041, Labor Code; and |
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(2) the commission's capacity to handle increased |
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telephone and online activity in response to a higher than normal |
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volume of benefit claims. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of |
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the house of representatives a report that includes the results of |
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the independent entity's study conducted under Subsection (b) of |
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this section and the commission's recommendations for legislative |
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or other action based on the study. |
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(d) This section expires January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |