87R6976 SRA-F By: Meyer, Metcalf H.B. No. 1804 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a prohibition against the appropriation of money to settle or pay a sexual harassment claim made against certain members of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government or their staff. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 5, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 576 to read as follows: CHAPTER 576. PROHIBITION ON APPROPRIATION OF MONEY TO SETTLE OR PAY SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS Sec. 576.0001. PROHIBITION ON APPROPRIATION OF MONEY TO SETTLE OR PAY SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS. The legislature may not appropriate money and a state agency may not use appropriated money to settle or otherwise pay a sexual harassment claim made against a person who: (1) is an elected member of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government; (2) is appointed by the governor to serve as a member of a department, commission, board, or other public office within the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government; or (3) serves as staff for a person described by Subdivision (1) or (2). SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.