unemployment benefit cap slides with the state jobless rate

The text as introduced · 464 words

89R3972 RDS-F

By: DeAyala
H.B. No. 199

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the maximum amount of unemployment benefits payable to

an individual during a benefit year under the state unemployment

insurance program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is

amended by adding Section 207.0055 to read as follows:

Sec. 207.0055. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BENEFITS; SLIDING SCALE.

(a) In this section, "state average unemployment rate" means the

average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in this state, as

published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, during

the most recent completed calendar year quarter preceding the first

day of an individual's benefit year.

(b) The maximum amount of benefits payable to an eligible

individual during a benefit year is an amount determined by the

state average unemployment rate on a sliding scale as follows:

(1) 14 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is not greater than 6.5 percent;

(2) 15 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is at least 6.6 percent but not greater than 7 percent;

(3) 16 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is at least 7.1 percent but not greater than 7.5 percent;

(4) 17 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is at least 7.6 percent but not greater than 8 percent;

(5) 18 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is at least 8.1 percent but not greater than 8.5 percent;

(6) 19 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is at least 8.6 percent but not greater than 9 percent;

(7) 20 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is greater than 9 percent but not greater than 9.5 percent;

(8) 21 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is at least 9.6 percent but not greater than 10 percent; and

(9) 27 times the individual's benefit amount, if the

rate is greater than 10 percent.

SECTION 2. Section 215.043(a), Labor Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) An individual is not entitled to receive shared work

benefits and regular unemployment compensation benefits that

exceed the maximum total benefits payable to the individual in a

benefit year as provided by Section 207.0055 [ 207.005 ].

SECTION 3. Section 207.005, Labor Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a claim for 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 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.