HBA-JRA H.B. 363 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 363
By: Ehrhardt
Public Education
3/21/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Labor Code prohibits discrimination against employees because of
race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age. Currently
there is no statutory prohibition against discrimination because of sexual
orientation or perceived sexual orientation.  H.B. 363 prohibits a school
district from discriminating against its employees or potential employees
because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, or
sexual orientation. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Labor Code, by adding Section
21.0515, as follows: 

Sec. 21.0515.  DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYER WHO IS SCHOOL DISTRICT. Defines
"sexual orientation."  Provides that a school district (district) commits
an unlawful employment practice if the district fails to hire, discharges,
or discriminates against an individual, or if the district limits,
segregates, or classifies an employee or applicant in a way that would
deprive an individual of an employment opportunity or adversely affect an
employee's status because of race, color, disability, religion, sex,
national origin, age, or sexual orientation. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.