S.B. No. 920
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the requirement that an unemployed individual be
  actively seeking work to be eligible for unemployment compensation
  benefits.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 207.021, Labor Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Chapter 215, an unemployed
  individual is eligible to receive benefits for a benefit period if
  the individual:
               (1)  has registered for work at an employment office
  and has continued to report to the employment office as required by
  rules adopted by the commission;
               (2)  has made a claim for benefits under Section
  208.001;
               (3)  is able to work;
               (4)  is available for work;
               (5)  is actively seeking work in accordance with rules
  adopted by the commission;
               (6)  for the individual's base period, has benefit wage
  credits:
                     (A)  in at least two calendar quarters; and
                     (B)  in an amount not less than 37 times the
  individual's benefit amount;
               (7) [(6)]  after the beginning date of the individual's
  most recent prior benefit year, if applicable, earned wages in an
  amount equal to not less than six times the individual's benefit
  amount;
               (8) [(7)]  has been totally or partially unemployed for
  a waiting period of at least seven consecutive days; and
               (9) [(8)]  participates in reemployment services, such
  as a job search assistance service, if the individual has been
  determined, according to a profiling system established by the
  commission, to be likely to exhaust eligibility for regular
  benefits and to need those services to obtain new employment,
  unless:
                     (A)  the individual has completed participation
  in such a service; or
                     (B)  there is reasonable cause, as determined by
  the commission, for the individual's failure to participate in
  those services.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (b), Section 207.0212, Labor Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 207.021, the governor, by
  executive order, may suspend the waiting period requirement imposed
  under Section 207.021(a)(8) [207.021(a)(7)] to authorize an
  individual to receive benefits for that waiting period if the
  individual:
               (1)  is unemployed as a direct result of a natural
  disaster that results in a disaster declaration by the president of
  the United States under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
  Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.);
               (2)  is otherwise eligible for unemployment
  compensation benefits under this subtitle; and
               (3)  is not receiving disaster unemployment assistance
  benefits for the period included in that waiting period.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 920 passed the Senate on
  April 4, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 920 passed the House on
  May 2, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, two present
  not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor