Two More Legislative Offerings - Including Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Two more representatives have filed bills that would have applicability to a broad group of Texas employers.

H.R. 570 Fred Brown Bryan - R For non-subscribers to workers compensation, the bill would cap liability at $250,000 for work place injuries to employees. In order to qualify for the cap, the employer must have insurance meeting certain limits.

H.R. 574 Jessica Farrar Houston - D. Would amend the TCHRA, to prohibit discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It would also protect anyone treated differently because of the sexual identity of individuals with whom the employee associates. Based on the make up of the legislature, this would seem almost certain to be a non-starter. However, most bills which would implement major changes are often introduced with no success for a number of years. The Texas effort is probably behind that on the national level on this issue.