88R11797 RDS/DIO-D
 
  By: Guerra H.B. No. 4592
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to employment and other assistance for certain unemployed
  individuals owing payment to certain utilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
  amended by adding Section 302.00351 to read as follows:
         Sec. 302.00351.  EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
  UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS OWING PAYMENT FOR UTILITY SERVICES. (a)  
  The commission shall establish and administer a program under which
  the commission provides employment assistance services, including
  skills training, job placement, and employment-related services,
  to an unemployed individual who:
               (1)  is receiving unemployment benefits under Subtitle
  A; and 
               (2)  has accrued unpaid bills for electric, gas, or
  water utility services.
         (b)  An unemployed individual enrolled in the program is
  entitled to receive service under Section 39.101(i), 104.258(d), or
  141.004(c), Utilities Code, or Section 13.152, Water Code.
         (c)  The commission, in consultation with the Public Utility
  Commission of Texas, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and
  providers of services to which Sections 39.101(i), 104.258(d), and
  141.004(c), Utilities Code, and Section 13.152, Water Code, apply
  shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 39.101, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (i)  A retail electric provider, power generation company,
  aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service:
               (1)  shall provide each residential customer with
  information about the employment assistance program described by
  Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a
  grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in
  the program, before disconnecting the customer's service for
  nonpayment; and
               (2)  for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer
  enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code:
                     (A)  may not disconnect service or impose late
  fees; and
                     (B)  shall defer collection of the full payment of
  bills that are due during that period.
         SECTION 3.  Section 104.258, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A provider:
               (1)  shall provide each residential customer with
  information about the employment assistance program described by
  Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a
  grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in
  the program, before disconnecting the customer's natural gas
  service for nonpayment; and
               (2)  for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer
  enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code:
                     (A)  may not disconnect natural gas service or
  impose late fees; and
                     (B)  shall defer collection of the full payment of
  bills that are due during that period.
         SECTION 4.  Section 141.004, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A distribution system retailer:
               (1)  shall provide each residential customer with
  information about the employment assistance program described by
  Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a
  grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in
  the program, before disconnecting the customer's propane gas
  service for nonpayment; and
               (2)  for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer
  enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code:
                     (A)  may not disconnect propane gas service or
  impose late fees; and
                     (B)  shall defer collection of the full payment of
  bills that are due during that period.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 13.152 to read as follows:
         Sec. 13.152.  SERVICES PROVIDED TO CUSTOMER ENROLLED IN
  EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. A retail public utility that is
  required to possess a certificate of public convenience and
  necessity or a district or affected county that furnishes retail
  water or sewer utility service:
               (1)  shall provide each residential customer with
  information about the employment assistance program described by
  Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a
  grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in
  the program, before disconnecting the customer's service for
  nonpayment; and
               (2)  for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer
  enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code:
                     (A)  may not disconnect service or impose late
  fees; and
                     (B)  shall defer collection of the full payment of
  bills that are due during that period.
         SECTION 6.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the rules
  required by Section 302.00351(c), Labor Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.