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.