By Longoria H.B. No. 180 76R943 PB-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to an exception for certain employees from the application 1-3 of the employment-at-will doctrine. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Chapter 54 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 54. RESTRICTION ON APPLICATION OF 1-8 EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE TO CERTAIN EMPLOYEES 1-9 Sec. 54.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 1-10 (1) "Employee" means an individual, other than an 1-11 independent contractor, who is employed for compensation. 1-12 (2) "Employer" means a person who employs one or more 1-13 employees. 1-14 Sec. 54.002. EXCEPTION FROM APPLICATION OF 1-15 EMPLOYMENT-AT-WILL DOCTRINE. An employer may not discharge an 1-16 employee who has been continuously employed by that employer for at 1-17 least 10 years, in any capacity, except for cause. 1-18 Sec. 54.003. REMEDIES. (a) An employer who violates this 1-19 chapter is liable for any loss of wages and employer-provided 1-20 benefits incurred by the employee as a result of the violation. 1-21 (b) A person discharged in violation of this chapter is 1-22 entitled to reinstatement in the same position of employment or to 1-23 an equivalent position of employment with commensurate pay. 1-24 Sec. 54.004. NOTICE; RULES. (a) Each employer shall notify 2-1 its employees of their rights under this chapter by posting an 2-2 appropriately worded sign in a prominent place in the employer's 2-3 workplace. 2-4 (b) The Texas Workforce Commission shall prescribe the 2-5 design and content of the sign required under Subsection (a) and 2-6 may adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter. 2-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-8 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.