JKM H.B. 81 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT H.B. 81 By: Longoria 4-24-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Texas law allows employers to dismiss employees "at will" - without any explanation or cause. At present there are no statutes which protect an individual employed for a substantial period of time from dismissals by his or her employer without cause. PURPOSE To prohibit employers from discharging, without cause, employees with ten or more years of service. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does expressly grant additional rulemaking authority to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1, by adding Sec. 54.004(b) to Subtitle B, Title 2, Labor Code. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1: Amends Subtitle B, Title 2, Labor Code, by adding Chapter 54. Section 54.001 defines "employee" and "employer." Section 54.002 prohibits an employer from discharging without cause an employee who has been employed for at least ten years. Sec. 54.003(a) provides for penalties for employers who violate this act. The employer would be liable for loss of wages and employerprovided benefits. Subsection (b) states that a person discharged in violation of this act is entitled to reinstatement in the same or equivalent position of employment with commensurate pay. Sec. 54.004(a) provides that employers will inform employees of their rights under this chapter by posted sign. Subsection (b) instructs the Texas Workforce Commission to create the sign and allows the commission to adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter. SECTION 2. Effective date. SECTION 3: Emergency clause.