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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to regulation of discrimination by political subdivisions |
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and certain state agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.151. ENFORCEMENT BY ORDINANCE. (a) The |
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prohibitions on discrimination in this chapter and other state law |
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are intended to occupy the field of discrimination law in Texas. A |
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political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an order, [or] |
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ordinance, or other measure that prohibits a practice that is not |
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unlawful under this chapter[,] or another state law[, or federal
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law]. |
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(b) An order or ordinance adopted by a county, municipality |
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or political subdivision before the date this provision becomes law |
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and that violates subsection (a) is null and void. |
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(c) The prohibition prescribed in Subsection (a) does not |
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restrict a county, municipality, or other political subdivision |
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from adopting a non-binding resolution expressing the intent of the |
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county, municipality, or other political subdivision to recognize |
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and encourage the protection and non-discrimination of certain |
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classes of people not otherwise protected under the laws of this |
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state. |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle A, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter L to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER L. ENFORCEMENT BY STATE AGENCY |
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Sec. 21.601. (a) "State agency" means any department, |
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commission, board, office, or other agency in the executive branch |
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of state government created by the constitution or a statute of this |
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state. The term does not include a university system or its |
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components or an institution of higher education as defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) The prohibitions on discrimination in this chapter and |
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other state law are intended to occupy the field of discrimination |
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law in Texas. A state agency may not adopt or enforce an order, |
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rule, policy, or other measure that prohibits a practice that is not |
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unlawful under this chapter or another state law. |
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(c) An order, rule, policy, or other measure adopted by a |
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state agency before the date this provision becomes law and that |
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violates subsection (b) is null and void. |
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SECTION 3. If a provision of this Act is declared invalid, |
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that declaration may not affect the validity of the remaining |
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provisions. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |