87R8099 RDS-D
By: Shaheen H.B. No. 3500
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on updating Texas Workforce Commission
technology for administering benefits under the Unemployment
Compensation Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. STUDY ON UPDATED TECHNOLOGY FOR ADMINISTERING
BENEFITS UNDER UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION ACT. (a) In this
section, "commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission.
(b) The commission shall contract with a qualified
independent entity to conduct a study on implementing updated
technology that relies less on staff to process claims for
unemployment benefits. The study must evaluate:
(1) how updated technology would improve the
commission's processes for:
(A) a claimant to file claims for benefits under
Section 208.001, Labor Code, paid through the commission;
(B) a claimant to provide additional information
requested by the commission in relation to a claim for benefits;
(C) the commission to provide notice to a
claimant of the commission's determination of an initial claim
under Section 208.022, Labor Code;
(D) a claimant to request a redetermination of
the commission's determination of the validity of an initial claim
under Section 208.023, Labor Code;
(E) a claimant to appeal the commission's
determination of the validity of an initial claim in the manner
provided by Chapter 212, Labor Code;
(F) the commission to provide notice to a
claimant regarding the status of a request for redetermination or
an appeal;
(G) a claimant to submit requests for benefit
payments;
(H) the commission to provide notice to a
claimant that the claimant is nearing the maximum amount of
benefits allowed under Section 207.005, Labor Code; and
(I) the commission to provide notice to a
claimant that the claimant is eligible for extended benefits under
Section 209.041, Labor Code; and
(2) the commission's capacity to handle increased
telephone and online activity in response to a higher than normal
volume of benefit claims.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall
submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
the house of representatives a report that includes the results of
the independent entity's study conducted under Subsection (b) of
this section and the commission's recommendations for legislative
or other action based on the study.
(d) This section expires January 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2021.