1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to discrimination in employment based on certain perceived

 1-3     disabilities.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 21.002(6), Labor Code, is amended to read

 1-6     as follows:

 1-7                 (6)  "Disability" means, with respect to an individual,

 1-8     a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least

 1-9     one major life activity of that individual, a record of such an

1-10     impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. The

1-11     term does not include:

1-12                       (A)  a current condition of addiction to the use

1-13     of alcohol, a drug, an illegal substance, or a federally controlled

1-14     substance; or

1-15                       (B)  a currently communicable disease or

1-16     infection as defined in Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, or

1-17     required to be reported under Section 81.041, Health and Safety

1-18     Code, [including acquired immune deficiency syndrome or infection

1-19     with the human immunodeficiency virus,] that constitutes a direct

1-20     threat to the health or safety of other persons or that makes the

1-21     affected person unable to perform the duties of the person's

1-22     employment.

1-23           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-24     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-4     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-5     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 220 was passed by the House on March

         26, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 220 was passed by the Senate on May

         26, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor