Bill Text: TX HR538 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing March 1, 2017, as the Day of the Fallen.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-03-03 - Reported enrolled [HR538 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR538-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 538 |
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WHEREAS, Construction workers and members of the Build a | ||
Better Texas Coalition are gathering in Austin on March 1, 2017, to | ||
promote workplace safety in the construction industry; and | ||
WHEREAS, The construction industry plays a significant role | ||
in the Texas economy, with nearly one million Texans laboring in | ||
construction and generating $1 out of every $20 in the economy; and | ||
WHEREAS, Workplace safety in Texas is a serious issue; more | ||
construction workers die as a result of workplace accidents or | ||
conditions in Texas than in any other state; from 2012 to 2015, 452 | ||
construction workers lost their lives on the job, nearly twice as | ||
many as in the state with the next highest number of deaths; in | ||
addition, one in every five construction workers in the state | ||
suffers an injury on the job that requires medical attention; and | ||
WHEREAS, Low wages and legal violations like wage theft and | ||
payroll fraud are common, with 41 percent of the workforce | ||
misclassified as independent contractors and one out of five | ||
workers falling victim to wage theft, further imperiling the | ||
economic stability of working families; and | ||
WHEREAS, Whenever employers in the industry fail to abide by | ||
the law, they decrease the ability of responsible businesses to | ||
compete, put the physical safety of their workers at risk, and force | ||
taxpayers to pick up costs resulting from their illegal practices; | ||
the Build a Better Texas Coalition is a group of businesses, | ||
community organizations, faith-based groups, and individuals who | ||
seek to foster workplace safety and to level the playing field for | ||
responsible businesses; and | ||
WHEREAS, Components of a proactive industry approach to | ||
worker safety include providing a safe workplace, adequate safety | ||
training and rest breaks, and workers' compensation insurance, | ||
which ensures that both workers and employers are protected in the | ||
event of a workplace accident; and | ||
WHEREAS, A strong and sustainable construction industry is | ||
essential to the economic prosperity of the Lone Star State, and | ||
such an industry is fostered by safe workplace practices and fair | ||
pay; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2017, as the Day of the Fallen | ||
in memory of the thousands of Texans who have died in | ||
construction-related accidents and call on leaders in the | ||
construction industry to uphold the highest standards of workplace | ||
safety; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for the Build a Better Texas Coalition to commemorate the | ||
Day of the Fallen. | ||
Walle | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 538 was adopted by the House on March | ||
1, 2017, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||