| 4 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 5 | 7 | | relating to improper unemployment compensation benefits refunded |
|---|
| 6 | 8 | | by a claimant to the Texas Workforce Commission. |
|---|
| 7 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 8 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 212.006, Labor Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 9 | 11 | | adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|---|
| 10 | 12 | | (c) The commission shall accept payment for benefits |
|---|
| 11 | 13 | | refunded by a claimant under Subsection (a)(1) by personal check, |
|---|
| 12 | 14 | | cashier's check, money order, debit card, electronic check, or |
|---|
| 13 | 15 | | electronic funds transfer. The commission shall accept payment |
|---|
| 14 | 16 | | through the mail and by Internet, as applicable. The commission may |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | | adopt rules to accept forms of payment not listed in this |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | | subsection. |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | | SECTION 2. Section 214.002, Labor Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 18 | 20 | | amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
|---|
| 19 | 21 | | follows: |
|---|
| 20 | 22 | | (a) A person who has received improper benefits is liable |
|---|
| 21 | 23 | | for the amount of the improper benefits. The commission may recover |
|---|
| 22 | 24 | | improper benefits by: |
|---|
| 23 | 25 | | (1) deducting the amount of the improper benefits from |
|---|
| 24 | 26 | | any future benefits payable to the person; [or] |
|---|
| 25 | 27 | | (2) collecting a refund from a claimant; or |
|---|
| 26 | 28 | | (3) collecting the amount of the improper benefits for |
|---|
| 27 | 29 | | the compensation fund in the same manner provided by Sections |
|---|
| 28 | 30 | | 213.031, 213.032, 213.033, 213.035, and 213.051 for the collection |
|---|
| 29 | 31 | | of past due contributions. |
|---|
| 30 | 32 | | (c) The commission shall accept payment for benefits |
|---|
| 31 | 33 | | refunded by a claimant under Subsection (a)(2) by personal check, |
|---|
| 32 | 34 | | cashier's check, money order, debit card, electronic check, or |
|---|
| 33 | 35 | | electronic funds transfer. The commission shall accept payment |
|---|
| 34 | 36 | | through the mail and by Internet, as applicable. The commission may |
|---|
| 35 | 37 | | adopt rules to accept forms of payment not listed in this |
|---|
| 36 | 38 | | subsection. |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | | SECTION 3. Sections 212.006(c) and 214.002(c), Labor Code, |
|---|
| 38 | 40 | | as added by this Act, apply to improper unemployment compensation |
|---|
| 39 | 41 | | benefits refunded by a claimant to the Texas Workforce Commission |
|---|
| 40 | 42 | | on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|---|
| 41 | 43 | | SECTION 4. Section 214.002(a), Labor Code, as amended by |
|---|
| 42 | 44 | | this Act, applies only to improper benefits obtained on or after the |
|---|
| 43 | 45 | | effective date of this Act. |
|---|
| 44 | 46 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
|---|
| 45 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
|---|
| 46 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
|---|
| 47 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1801 passed the Senate on |
|---|
| 48 | | - | April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|---|
| 49 | | - | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 50 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
|---|
| 51 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1801 passed the House on |
|---|
| 52 | | - | May 23, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 2, two |
|---|
| 53 | | - | present not voting. |
|---|
| 54 | | - | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 55 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
|---|
| 56 | | - | Approved: |
|---|
| 57 | | - | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 58 | | - | Date |
|---|
| 59 | | - | ______________________________ |
|---|
| 60 | | - | Governor |
|---|