H.B. No. 1567 amends the Texas Labor Code to expand the eligibility criteria for unemployment compensation for individuals who leave their jobs to care for a minor child. The bill introduces a new provision that states individuals will not be disqualified from receiving benefits if they leave the workplace to care for their minor child due to an unexpected illness, accident, or other unforeseeable event, provided that no reasonable alternative care is available. This addition is made alongside existing provisions that allow for unemployment benefits in cases of urgent and compelling reasons, such as family violence or the need to care for a terminally ill spouse.

Additionally, the bill removes the previous provision that allowed for unemployment benefits only in cases of caring for a terminally ill spouse, thereby broadening the scope of eligible circumstances. The changes will apply to claims filed with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Claims filed before this date will continue to be governed by the law in effect at that time.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Labor Code 207.046 (Labor Code 207)