Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1687 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/08/2021

                            87R9623 JSC-D
 By: Noble H.B. No. 1687


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to unlawful employment practices with respect to the
 COVID-19 vaccine.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended by adding
 Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER H-1. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON COVID-19 VACCINATION
 STATUS
 Sec. 21.421.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "COVID-19"
 means the 2019 novel coronavirus disease.
 Sec. 21.422.  PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON COVID-19
 VACCINATION STATUS. (a) An employer commits an unlawful employment
 practice if the employer fails or refuses to hire, discharges, or
 otherwise discriminates against an individual with respect to the
 compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment
 because the individual has not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
 (b)  A labor organization commits an unlawful employment
 practice if the labor organization excludes or expels from
 membership or otherwise discriminates against an individual
 because the individual has not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
 (c)  An employment agency commits an unlawful employment
 practice if the employment agency classifies or refers for
 employment, fails or refuses to refer for employment, or otherwise
 discriminates against an individual because the individual has not
 received a COVID-19 vaccine.
 SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
 to an unlawful employment practice that occurs on or after the
 effective date of this Act.
 SECTION 3.  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, 2021.