Texas House Bill HB1682

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Introduced: 2/23/11
• Out of House Committee: 3/28/11
• Voted on by House: 4/21/11
• Refer: 3/3/11
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/11/11
• Report Pass: 3/24/11
• Voted on by Senate: 5/19/11
• Engrossed: 4/21/11
• Governor Action: 6/17/11
• Refer: 4/29/11
• Report Pass: 5/11/11
• Enrolled: 5/23/11
• Passed: 6/17/11

Caption

Relating to prohibiting school districts from requiring or coercing school district employees to make charitable contributions.

Impact

If enacted, HB1682 would have significant implications for how school districts engage with their employees concerning charitable activities. The bill emphasizes that participation in charitable contributions should be entirely voluntary, thereby removing any potential pressure from school officials or fundraising campaigns directed at employees. This change aims to clarify the distinction between encouraging charitable participation and imposing a mandatory expectation upon employees, thereby promoting a more ethical and respectful workplace environment within Texas school districts.

Summary

House Bill 1682 aims to prohibit school districts in Texas from requiring or coercing employees to make charitable contributions. Specifically, the bill asserts that no school district board of trustees or employees should directly or indirectly compel any other school district employee to contribute to charitable organizations or participate in fundraising events. Additionally, the bill protects employees from being coerced to refrain from making voluntary contributions or attending fundraising meetings. This measure is designed to safeguard the rights of school employees regarding their personal and financial decisions concerning charitable donations.

Contention

While the bill seems straightforward in its intentions to protect employee autonomy, there may be points of contention regarding its implications for school district fundraising efforts and community engagement initiatives. Critics could argue that this restriction might hamper schools' ability to engage in impactful fundraising, particularly when collective employee support is often a crucial element of such efforts. Conversely, advocates would likely defend the bill as a necessary measure to ensure that employees are not subjected to undue pressure regarding their charitable giving, which aligns with broader principles of personal choice and ethical conduct in the workplace.