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House Bill 1178 |
House Author: Flynn |
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Effective: 6-17-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Birdwell |
House Bill 1178 amends the Government Code to prohibit any employer from terminating the employment of any employee who is a member of the state military forces of Texas or any other state because the employee is ordered to authorized training or duty by a proper authority. The bill makes a violation of provisions of law relating to the reemployment of such a person an unlawful employment practice. The bill removes provisions entitling a person injured by such a violation to certain damages, establishing a defense to an action for damages, and prohibiting an employer from delaying or attempting to defeat a reemployment obligation by making certain documentation demands and instead authorizes the person to file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) civil rights division. The bill establishes a process for filing, investigating, and resolving such a complaint, including procedures by which the TWC or the complainant may bring a civil action against the respondent to the complaint, and encourages the use of alternative dispute resolution. The bill authorizes a court to take certain action on finding that the respondent engaged in an unlawful employment practice as alleged in the complaint, including issuing injunctive relief, ordering additional equitable relief, and, if the practice was found to be intentional, awarding compensatory and punitive damages.
House Bill 1178 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for female active or former members of the United States armed forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas State Guard.