HBA-JRA H.B. 363 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 363 By: Ehrhardt Public Education 3/21/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Labor Code prohibits discrimination against employees because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age. Currently there is no statutory prohibition against discrimination because of sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. H.B. 363 prohibits a school district from discriminating against its employees or potential employees because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, or sexual orientation. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Labor Code, by adding Section 21.0515, as follows: Sec. 21.0515. DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYER WHO IS SCHOOL DISTRICT. Defines "sexual orientation." Provides that a school district (district) commits an unlawful employment practice if the district fails to hire, discharges, or discriminates against an individual, or if the district limits, segregates, or classifies an employee or applicant in a way that would deprive an individual of an employment opportunity or adversely affect an employee's status because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, or sexual orientation. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.