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 adds a new provision that allows individuals to qualify for benefits if they leave the workplace due to an unexpected illness, accident, or other unforeseeable event affecting their minor child, provided that no reasonable alternative care is available. This new eligibility criterion is in addition to existing provisions that cover separations due to urgent and compelling reasons, family violence, and service in the uniformed services.

The bill also makes a deletion from the current law, removing the previous provision that allowed individuals to leave the workplace to care for a terminally ill spouse. The changes will apply only to claims for unemployment compensation 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)