87R3165 JSC-D
By: Campbell S.B. No. 551
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to wages and employment benefits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Texas Small
Business Protection Act.
SECTION 2. Section 62.002, Labor Code, is amended by adding
Subdivision (8) to read as follows:
(8) "Wages" has the meaning assigned by Section
61.001.
SECTION 3. Subtitle D, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 83 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 83. PROHIBITION AGAINST LOCAL REGULATION OF EMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS
Sec. 83.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Employee" means an individual who is employed by
an employer for compensation.
(2) "Employer" means a person who employs one or more
employees.
(3) "Employment benefit" means anything of value that
an employee receives from an employer in addition to monetary
compensation, including:
(A) health, disability, retirement,
profit-sharing, and death benefits;
(B) group accidental death and dismemberment
benefits; and
(C) paid days off from work for holidays, sick
leave, vacation, and personal necessity.
Sec. 83.002. PROHIBITION AGAINST MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY
REQUIRING EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. A municipality or county may not
adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, rule, or regulation that
requires an employer in the municipality or county to provide
employment benefits.
SECTION 4. Chapter 83, Labor Code, as added by this Act,
applies to an ordinance, order, rule, or regulation adopted before,
on, or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.