Bill Text: TX HB494 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 494 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to a prohibition on state travel to a state with laws allowing or requiring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-16 - Referred to State Affairs [HB494 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB494-Introduced.html

	85R2563 AAF-D

	By: Anchia	H.B. No. 494



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a prohibition on state travel to a state with laws
	allowing or requiring discrimination based on sexual orientation or
	gender identity or expression.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended
	by adding Chapter 620 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 620. PROHIBITION ON STATE TRAVEL TO STATES WITH CERTAIN
	DISCRIMINATORY LAWS
	Sec. 620.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1) "Gender identity or expression" means having or
	being perceived as having gender-related identity, appearance,
	expression, or behavior, regardless of whether that identity,
	appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that commonly
	associated with the individual's actual or perceived sex.
	(2) "Sexual orientation" means the actual or perceived
	status of an individual with respect to the individual's sexuality.
	(3) "State agency" means a board, commission,
	department, office, or other agency in the executive or legislative
	branch of state government. The term includes an institution of
	higher education, the senate, and the house of representatives.
	(4) "State employee" means a person who receives
	compensation for service performed, other than as an independent
	contractor, for a state agency. The term includes a state officer or
	a member of the senate or house of representatives.
	Sec. 620.002. APPLICABILITY. (a) Except as provided by
	Subsection (b), this chapter applies only to travel to a state other
	than this state that, after June 26, 2015, enacted a law that:
	(1) voids or repeals any existing protection against
	discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender
	identity or expression;
	(2) authorizes or requires discrimination against
	same-sex couples or their families or on the basis of sexual
	orientation or gender identity or expression; or
	(3) creates an exemption to an antidiscrimination law
	in order to permit discrimination against same-sex couples or their
	families or on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or
	expression.
	(b) This chapter does not apply to travel to a state
	described by Subsection (a) after the date all laws described by
	Subsections (a)(1)-(3) are repealed or otherwise become
	ineffective in that state.
	Sec. 620.003. CERTAIN STATE TRAVEL PROHIBITED. A state
	agency may not:
	(1) require a state employee to travel to a state
	described by Section 620.002(a); or
	(2) except as provided by Section 620.004, approve a
	request for state-funded or state-sponsored travel to a state
	described by Section 620.002(a).
	Sec. 620.004. EXCEPTIONS. Section 620.003(2) does not
	apply to travel that is required for:
	(1) enforcement of this state's law, including
	auditing or revenue collection;
	(2) litigation;
	(3) compliance with a contractual obligation incurred
	before September 1, 2017;
	(4) compliance with a federal government request to
	appear before a committee;
	(5) participation in training or a meeting, if
	participation is required by a grant or required to maintain grant
	funding;
	(6) completion of job training necessary to maintain a
	license or a similar requirement to hold a position, if the training
	is not available in this state or a state to which Section
	620.002(a) does not apply; or
	(7) the protection of public health, welfare, or
	safety as determined by the state agency.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.