By Thompson H.B. No. 1517 75R6552 PB-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the prohibition of certain discrimination in 1-3 applications for employment and employment interviews. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Section 21.0515 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 21.0515. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT 1-8 APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS. (a) An employer commits an unlawful 1-9 employment practice if the employer, as a condition for 1-10 consideration for employment: 1-11 (1) requires an applicant for employment to disclose 1-12 in an application form the sexual orientation of the applicant; or 1-13 (2) in the course of an interview with an applicant 1-14 for employment, requests the applicant to disclose the sexual 1-15 orientation of the applicant. 1-16 (b) This section does not apply to: 1-17 (1) an organization that meets the standards for 1-18 qualification as a religious organization under Section 11.20, Tax 1-19 Code; or 1-20 (2) a school, institution of higher education, or 1-21 other educational institution that: 1-22 (A) is not described by Section 11.20, Tax Code, 1-23 but that is wholly or substantially controlled, managed, owned, or 1-24 supported by an organization described by Subdivision (1); or 2-1 (B) has a curriculum directed toward the 2-2 propagation of a particular religion. 2-3 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-4 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.