By: Vo H.B. No. 3699
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to initial claims under the unemployment compensation
system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 208.002(a), Labor Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 208.002. INITIAL CLAIM; LAST WORK. (a) When used in
connection with an initial claim, "last work" and "person for whom
the claimant last worked refers to :
(1) the last person for whom the claimant actually
worked, if the claimant worked for that person for at least 30 hours
during a week; or
(2) the employer, as defined by Subchapter C, Chapter
201, or by the unemployment law of any other state, for whom the
claimant last worked., unless otherwise required by state or
federal law.
(b) The commission shall mail a notice of the filing of an
initial claim to the person for whom the claimant last worked before
the effective date of the initial claim. If the person for whom the
claimant last worked has more than one branch or division operating
at different locations, the commission shall mail the notice to the
branch or division at which the claimant last worked.
(c) Mailing of a notice under this section to the correct
address of the person, branch, or division for which the claimant
last worked constitutes notice of the claim to the person.
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 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 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.