81R21536 PB-D
By: Eiland H.B. No. 1858
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1858:
By: Brown of Brazos C.S.H.B. No. 1858
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to suspension of the unemployment compensation waiting
period requirement during a disaster subject to a federal disaster
declaration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 207.0212 to read as follows:
Sec. 207.0212. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS UNEMPLOYED
BECAUSE OF DISASTER. (a) In this section, "disaster unemployment
assistance benefits" means benefits authorized under Section 410,
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. Section 5177), and rules adopted under that section.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 207.021, the governor may
approve the suspension of the waiting period requirement imposed
under Section 207.021(a)(7) to authorize an individual to receive
benefits for that waiting period if the individual:
(1) is unemployed as a direct result of a natural
disaster that results in a disaster declaration by the president of
the United States under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.);
(2) is otherwise eligible for unemployment
compensation benefits under this subtitle; and
(3) is not receiving disaster unemployment assistance
benefits for the period included in that waiting period.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a claim for unemployment compensation benefits that is filed
with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date
of this Act. A claim filed before that date is governed by the law
in effect on the date the claim was filed, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.