88R11797 RDS/DIO-D     By: Guerra H.B. No. 4592       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   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.