88R972 SCL-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 514
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Pay Equity Task Force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the Texas
Pay Equity Task Force.
(b) The Texas Pay Equity Task Force is established to assess
whether a disparity exists on the basis of gender, disability, or
race in compensation paid to employees of state agencies, counties,
and municipalities.
(c) The task force is composed of nine members appointed as
follows:
(1) two representatives of state agencies and one
representative of a nonprofit organization engaged in gender,
disability, or race pay equity issues, appointed by the governor;
(2) one representative of a county, one representative
of a municipality, and one representative of a nonprofit
organization engaged in gender, disability, or race pay equity
issues, appointed by the lieutenant governor; and
(3) one representative of a county, one representative
of a municipality, and one representative of a nonprofit
organization engaged in gender, disability, or race pay equity
issues, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for
service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for
actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force
duties. The task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to
pay for those expenses.
(e) The members of the task force shall elect a presiding
officer from among the membership.
(f) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call
of the presiding officer.
(g) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any
other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call,
videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A
meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or
other similar telecommunication method is subject to the
requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government
Code.
(h) The task force shall conduct a study to determine
whether a disparity exists on the basis of gender, disability, or
race in compensation paid to employees of state agencies, counties,
and municipalities. The task force may request payroll information,
including the gender, disability status, and race of each employee,
from a state agency, county, or municipality, and the state agency,
county, or municipality shall comply with the request.
(i) If the task force determines that a pay disparity
exists, the task force shall develop recommendations to eliminate
the disparity.
(j) The task force shall develop and submit a written report
on the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than
November 1, 2024.
(k) The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1,
2025.
SECTION 2. 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, 2023.