HBA-BSM H.B. 694 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 694
By: Yarbrough
Economic Development
7/9/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a person who participates in reemployment services such
as a job search assistance is eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
Prior to the 77th Legislature, there were  no provisions that allowed for a
blind individual after completion of training and rehabilitation to work
for a workshop and still be eligible for unemployment benefits.  House Bill
694 allows a blind individual to remain eligible for unemployment benefits
while the person works at a sheltered workshop.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 694 amends the Labor Code to provide that, for purposes of
determining eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits,
"employment" does not include services performed by a blind individual
while in training at a sheltered workshop operated by a charitable
organization under a rehabilitation program.  The bill provides that
"employment" includes services performed by a blind individual who, after
training, works temporarily for a workshop while awaiting employment in the
competitive labor market or permanently for a workshop because the
individual is unable to compete in the competitive labor market. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.