Bill Text: TX HB723 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to unlawful employment practices with respect to compensation and wage history.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-28 - Referred to International Relations & Economic Development [HB723 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB723-Introduced.html
  88R200 RDS-D
 
  By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 723
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to unlawful employment practices with respect to
  compensation and wage history.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.202, Labor Code, is amended by adding
  Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  With respect to an allegation of discrimination in
  payment of compensation in violation of this chapter, an unlawful
  employment practice occurs each time:
               (1)  a discriminatory compensation decision or other
  discriminatory practice affecting compensation is adopted;
               (2)  an individual becomes subject to a discriminatory
  compensation decision or other discriminatory practice affecting
  compensation; or
               (3)  an individual is adversely affected by application
  of a discriminatory compensation decision or other discriminatory
  practice affecting compensation, including each time wages
  affected wholly or partly by the decision or other practice are
  paid.
         SECTION 2.  Section 21.258, Labor Code, is amended by adding
  Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  Liability may accrue, and an aggrieved individual may
  obtain relief as provided by this subchapter, including recovery of
  back pay for the period allowed under this section, if the unlawful
  employment practices that occurred during the period for filing a
  complaint are similar or related to unlawful employment practices
  with regard to discrimination in payment of compensation that
  occurred outside the period for filing a complaint.
         SECTION 3.  Subtitle A, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 24 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 24. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION REGARDING COMPENSATION
         Sec. 24.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Applicant" means an individual who has made an
  oral or written application with an employer, or has sent a resume
  or other correspondence to an employer, indicating an interest in
  employment.
               (2)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
  Commission.
               (3)  "Employee" and "employer" have the meanings
  assigned by Section 21.002.
               (4)  "Wages" has the meaning assigned by Section
  61.001.
         Sec. 24.002.  EMPLOYER INQUIRIES INTO AND CONSIDERATION OF
  WAGE HISTORY INFORMATION. An employer commits an unlawful
  employment practice in violation of this chapter and Chapter 21 if
  the employer:
               (1)  verbally or in writing inquires into an
  applicant's wage history information from the applicant or from a
  previous employer of the applicant; or
               (2)  requires disclosure of an applicant's wage history
  information as a condition of employment.
         Sec. 24.003.  EMPLOYER ACTIONS REGARDING WAGE DISCLOSURE BY
  EMPLOYEE OR APPLICANT. (a) An employer commits an unlawful
  employment practice in violation of this chapter and Chapter 21 if
  the employer discharges or in any other manner discriminates
  against, coerces, intimidates, threatens, or interferes with an
  employee, applicant, or other individual because the individual
  inquired about, disclosed, compared, or otherwise discussed an
  employee's wages or an applicant's prospective wages.
         (b)  This section does not require an employee to disclose
  the employee's wages or an applicant to disclose the applicant's
  prospective wages.
         Sec. 24.004.  COMPLAINT; ENFORCEMENT. (a) An individual
  aggrieved by an unlawful employment practice under this chapter may
  file a complaint with the commission. A complaint filed under this
  section is subject to Subchapters E and F, Chapter 21.
         (b)  The commission shall enforce this chapter in accordance
  with Chapter 21.
         SECTION 4.  (a) Sections 21.202 and 21.258, Labor Code, as
  amended by this Act, apply only to a discriminatory compensation
  decision or other discriminatory practice affecting compensation
  that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  Chapter 24, Labor Code, as added by this Act, applies
  only to an unlawful employment practice that occurs on or after
  January 1, 2024.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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