Bill Text: TX HB741 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the right of a public employee to express breast milk in the workplace.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-15 - Referred to Health & Human Services [HB741 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB741-Introduced.html
  83R1995 EAH-D
 
  By: Walle H.B. No. 741
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the right of a public employee to breast-feed, or to
  express breast milk for, the employee's child in the workplace.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 619 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 619. RIGHT TO BREAST-FEED OR EXPRESS BREAST MILK
  IN THE WORKPLACE
         Sec. 619.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "public
  employer" means a:
               (1)  county, municipality, or other political
  subdivision of this state, including a school district; or
               (2)  board, commission, office, department, or other
  agency in the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of state
  government, including an institution of higher education.
         Sec. 619.002.  RIGHT TO BREAST-FEED OR EXPRESS BREAST MILK.
  An employee of a public employer is entitled to breast-feed, or
  express breast milk for, the employee's child at the employee's
  workplace.
         Sec. 619.003.  BREAST-FEEDING POLICY. (a) A public employer
  shall develop a written policy supporting women who want to
  continue breast-feeding after returning from maternity leave.
         (b)  A policy developed under Subsection (a) must state that
  the public employer shall:
               (1)  support and encourage the practice of
  breast-feeding; and
               (2)  accommodate the breast-feeding needs of
  employees.
         Sec. 619.004.  PUBLIC EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES. A public
  employer shall:
               (1)  provide a reasonable amount of break time at
  appropriate intervals to accommodate an employee desiring to
  breast-feed or express breast milk under this chapter; and
               (2)  provide a room or other location in close
  proximity to the employee's work area, other than a toilet stall or
  restroom, with an accessible electrical outlet and a locking door
  where the employee can breast-feed or express breast milk in
  private.
         Sec. 619.005.  DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. (a) A public
  employer may not suspend or terminate the employment of, or
  otherwise discriminate against, an employee based on the employee's
  exercise of her right to breast-feed or express breast milk in the
  workplace under this chapter.
         (b)  The refusal of a public employer to comply with the
  requirements of this chapter constitutes an unlawful employment
  practice under Chapter 21, Labor Code.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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