HBA-TBM S.B. 624 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 624 By: Duncan Business & Industry 4/5/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, there are no provisions regarding the use of waivers for employees of employers who do not subscribe to the workers' compensation system. Senate Bill 624 provides that any agreement by an employee to waive a cause of action against an employer prior to the employee's injury or death is void and unenforceable. 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. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 624 amends the Labor Code to prohibit a cause of action against an employer who does not have workers' compensation insurance coverage to recover damages for personal injuries or death sustained by an employee in the course and scope of the employment from being waived by an employee prior to the employee's injury or death. Any agreement by an employee to waive a cause of action or any right prior to the employee's injury or death is void and unenforceable. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.