Bill Text: TX HB4592 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to employment and other assistance for certain unemployed individuals owing payment to certain utilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-22 - Referred to Business & Industry [HB4592 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4592-Introduced.html
| 88R11797 RDS/DIO-D | ||
| By: Guerra | H.B. No. 4592 | |
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| relating to employment and other assistance for certain unemployed | ||
| individuals owing payment to certain utilities. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 302.00351 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 302.00351. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN | ||
| UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS OWING PAYMENT FOR UTILITY SERVICES. (a) | ||
| The commission shall establish and administer a program under which | ||
| the commission provides employment assistance services, including | ||
| skills training, job placement, and employment-related services, | ||
| to an unemployed individual who: | ||
| (1) is receiving unemployment benefits under Subtitle | ||
| A; and | ||
| (2) has accrued unpaid bills for electric, gas, or | ||
| water utility services. | ||
| (b) An unemployed individual enrolled in the program is | ||
| entitled to receive service under Section 39.101(i), 104.258(d), or | ||
| 141.004(c), Utilities Code, or Section 13.152, Water Code. | ||
| (c) The commission, in consultation with the Public Utility | ||
| Commission of Texas, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and | ||
| providers of services to which Sections 39.101(i), 104.258(d), and | ||
| 141.004(c), Utilities Code, and Section 13.152, Water Code, apply | ||
| shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of this | ||
| section. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 39.101, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: | ||
| (i) A retail electric provider, power generation company, | ||
| aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service: | ||
| (1) shall provide each residential customer with | ||
| information about the employment assistance program described by | ||
| Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a | ||
| grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in | ||
| the program, before disconnecting the customer's service for | ||
| nonpayment; and | ||
| (2) for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer | ||
| enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code: | ||
| (A) may not disconnect service or impose late | ||
| fees; and | ||
| (B) shall defer collection of the full payment of | ||
| bills that are due during that period. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 104.258, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: | ||
| (d) A provider: | ||
| (1) shall provide each residential customer with | ||
| information about the employment assistance program described by | ||
| Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a | ||
| grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in | ||
| the program, before disconnecting the customer's natural gas | ||
| service for nonpayment; and | ||
| (2) for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer | ||
| enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code: | ||
| (A) may not disconnect natural gas service or | ||
| impose late fees; and | ||
| (B) shall defer collection of the full payment of | ||
| bills that are due during that period. | ||
| SECTION 4. Section 141.004, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: | ||
| (c) A distribution system retailer: | ||
| (1) shall provide each residential customer with | ||
| information about the employment assistance program described by | ||
| Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a | ||
| grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in | ||
| the program, before disconnecting the customer's propane gas | ||
| service for nonpayment; and | ||
| (2) for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer | ||
| enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code: | ||
| (A) may not disconnect propane gas service or | ||
| impose late fees; and | ||
| (B) shall defer collection of the full payment of | ||
| bills that are due during that period. | ||
| SECTION 5. Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Section 13.152 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 13.152. SERVICES PROVIDED TO CUSTOMER ENROLLED IN | ||
| EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. A retail public utility that is | ||
| required to possess a certificate of public convenience and | ||
| necessity or a district or affected county that furnishes retail | ||
| water or sewer utility service: | ||
| (1) shall provide each residential customer with | ||
| information about the employment assistance program described by | ||
| Section 302.00351, Labor Code, and, on request by the customer, a | ||
| grace period of at least 14 days to allow the customer to enroll in | ||
| the program, before disconnecting the customer's service for | ||
| nonpayment; and | ||
| (2) for a period of 90 days, for a residential customer | ||
| enrolled in the program described by Section 302.00351, Labor Code: | ||
| (A) may not disconnect service or impose late | ||
| fees; and | ||
| (B) shall defer collection of the full payment of | ||
| bills that are due during that period. | ||
| SECTION 6. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
| of this Act, the Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the rules | ||
| required by Section 302.00351(c), Labor Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
