Bill Text: TX HB2732 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to recovery of covered unemployment compensation debt through participation in the federal Treasury Offset Program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-10 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB2732 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2732-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 2732
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to recovery of covered unemployment compensation debt
  through participation in the federal Treasury Offset Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 214, Labor Code, is amended by adding
  Section 214.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 214.009.  RECOVERY OF COVERED UNEMPLOYMENT
  COMPENSATION DEBT THROUGH FEDERAL TREASURY OFFSET PROGRAM.  (a)  In
  this section, "program" means the federal Treasury Offset Program
  authorized by 26 U.S.C. Section 6402(f).
         (b)  The commission may collect the following covered
  unemployment compensation debt through the program:
               (1)  a past-due debt for erroneous payment of benefits
  due to fraud that has become final under law and remains
  uncollected;
               (2)  a past-due debt for erroneous payment of benefits
  due to a person's failure to report earnings, even if
  non-fraudulent, that has become final under law and remains
  uncollected;
               (3)  a past-due employer contribution owed to the
  compensation fund for which the commission has determined the
  person to be liable and that remains uncollected; and
               (4)  any penalties and interest assessed by the
  commission on a debt described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3).
         (c)  Before submitting covered unemployment compensation
  debt for recovery under the program, the commission must:
               (1)  notify the debtor by regular United States mail
  that the commission plans to recover the debt through the offset of
  any federal tax refund;
               (2)  provide the debtor at least 60 days following the
  date the notice is provided under Subdivision (1) to present to the
  commission evidence that all or part of the debt is not:
                     (A)  legally enforceable;
                     (B)  due to fraud or unreported earnings; or
                     (C)  a contribution owed to the compensation fund;
  and
               (3)  consider any evidence presented by the debtor to
  determine the amount of debt that is legally enforceable and owed.
         (d)  In considering evidence presented by a debtor under
  Subsection (c), the commission may determine only whether the
  debtor has demonstrated that the debt is not subject to recovery
  through the program so that the commission is able to minimize
  erroneous offsets.  The commission may not review the initial
  determination establishing the debtor's liability.
         (e)  The commission shall assess against the debtor the cost
  of any administrative fee charged by the United States Department
  of the Treasury for each offset.  The commission may add the
  assessed amount to the covered unemployment compensation debt that
  is offset under the program.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2732 was passed by the House on May 4,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 128, Nays 11, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2732 was passed by the Senate on May
  20, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 26, Nays 4.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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