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.