Gov. Abbott Announces $30M Dislocated Worker Grant, Changes Unemployment Rules For Texans Impacted By Hurricane #Harvey
“These funds will provide tremendous assistance to workers affected by Hurricane Harvey as we continue to assist Texans during these recovery efforts…”
“Texas’ most valuable resource is its people, and these grants will go a long way in getting our people back to work,” said Governor Abbott. “In this time of need, I want to make sure Texas families have what they need, as well as ensure a swift and effective recovery process, and these grants will help us accomplish both of these urgent matters.”
“We will build partnerships and offer services to assist dislocated workers, respond to the needs of Texas businesses and rebuild Texas communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey,” said TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar. “These funds will support our efforts, including those of our local workforce boards, to build and deploy a broad range of responsive strategies to meet the needs in our local communities.”
TWC has been working with local workforce development boards, known as Workforce Solutions, to determine the needs in the areas most heavily impacted by the storm. Workforce Solutions Alamo, Coastal Bend, Deep East Texas, Golden Crescent, Gulf Coast, Rural Capital Area and Southeast Texas will identify and place dislocated workers into temporary employment opportunities to assist with cleanup efforts.
Disaster funds will also be used to help displaced Texans return to full employment as quickly as possible.
“As we continue our efforts to restore our communities in the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters our country has ever seen, I am dedicated to ensuring our state resources and services are provided to impacted employers, individuals and communities,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs.
“These funds will provide tremendous assistance to workers affected by Hurricane Harvey as we continue to assist Texans during these recovery efforts,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez.
Governor Abbott Issues Executive Order for Unemployment Insurance as a Result of Harvey
Additionally, Gov. Abbott ordered the suspension of the seven-day waiting period requirement imposed under Texas law.
The proclamation stated several businesses have sustained extensive damage or been completely destroyed or are physically inaccessible creating a lack of work and loss of salaries and revenues; and workers and employees totally or partially unemployed by the disaster have found the current seven-day waiting period for certain state unemployment insurance claims a hardship to receiving benefits.
Under Section 207.021(a)(8) of the Texas Labor Code to authorize an individual to receive benefits for that waiting period if the individual is:
(1) unemployed as a direct result of a natural disaster that resulted in the major disaster declaration issued by the President of the United States (FEMA 4332-DR) under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.; and
(2) otherwise eligible for unemployment compensation benefits under the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act; and
(3) not receiving disaster unemployment assistance benefits for the period included in that waiting period.
