82R2080 RWG-D
By: Ellis, Lucio S.B. No. 742
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility of certain job trainees for extended
unemployment compensation benefits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 209.041, Labor Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 209.041. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXTENDED BENEFITS. (a) An
individual is eligible to receive extended benefits for a benefit
period of unemployment in the individual's eligibility period if,
with respect to the benefit period, the individual:
(1) has exhausted all regular benefits;
(2) satisfies the requirements of this subtitle for
the receipt of regular benefits that are applicable to an
individual claiming extended benefits, including not being
disqualified for the receipt of benefits; and
(3) has within the individual's base period received
benefit wage credits for employment by employers in an amount not
less than:
(A) 40 times the individual's weekly benefit
amount; or
(B) 1-1/2 times the individual's high-quarter
benefit wage credits.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an individual is also
eligible to receive extended benefits for a benefit period of
unemployment in the individual's eligibility period as provided by
Subchapter F.
SECTION 2. Chapter 209, Labor Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter F to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. EXTENDED BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED
IN CERTAIN TRAINING PROGRAMS
Sec. 209.101. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXTENDED BENEFITS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an individual
is entitled to extended benefits as provided by this subchapter if
the individual:
(1) is unemployed;
(2) has exhausted all regular benefits; and
(3) is enrolled in, and making satisfactory progress
toward completion of, a commission-approved training program under
Section 207.022 or a job training program under the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.) designed to
prepare individuals who have been separated from a declining
occupation or who have been involuntarily and indefinitely
separated from employment as a result of a permanent reduction of
operations at the individual's place of employment.
Sec. 209.102. DURATION AND AMOUNT OF EXTENDED BENEFITS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an
eligible individual under Section 209.101 is entitled to receive
extended benefits under this subchapter until the earlier of:
(1) the date the individual completes the training
program; or
(2) the expiration of 26 additional benefit periods.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
the weekly amount of extended benefits payable to an eligible
individual under Section 209.101 is an amount equal to the
individual's average weekly benefit amount for the most recent
benefit year.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a claim for extended unemployment compensation benefits filed
with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date
of this Act. A claim filed before the effective date of this Act 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 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.