HBA-EDN H.B. 2213 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2213 By: Deshotel Economic Development 3/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE For the past several years, fewer unemployed workers have been collecting unemployment insurance benefits. More workers would be eligible for benefits if states were to compute benefits based on an alternative base period calculation. Currently, base periods in most states are defined as the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. Depending on when a claim for benefits is filed and how the state defines its base period, the quarters considered may include wages earned as much as 18 months back. Using an alternative base period, a claimant is allowed to have considered the wages earned in the most recently completed calendar quarter. House Bill 2213 allows benefits to be computed based on an alternative base period. 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 2213 amends the Labor Code to provide that, for an individual who does not have sufficient benefit wage credits to qualify for unemployment benefits under the computation of the base period as provided by this bill, the base period is the four most recently completed calendar quarters preceding the first day of the individual's benefit year. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 1999.