By Thompson H.B. No. 913 76R4628 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: 1-10 (1) as a condition for consideration for employment: 1-11 (A) requires an applicant for employment to 1-12 disclose in an application form the sexual orientation of the 1-13 applicant; or 1-14 (B) in the course of an interview with an 1-15 applicant for employment, requests the applicant to disclose the 1-16 sexual orientation of the applicant; or 1-17 (2) asks a person other than the applicant, including 1-18 a former employer of the applicant, to offer an assessment of the 1-19 applicant's genuine or perceived sexual orientation. 1-20 (b) This section does not apply to: 1-21 (1) an organization that meets the standards for 1-22 qualification as a religious organization under Section 11.20, Tax 1-23 Code; or 1-24 (2) a school, institution of higher education, or 2-1 other educational institution that: 2-2 (A) is not described by Section 11.20, Tax Code, 2-3 but that is wholly or substantially controlled, managed, owned, or 2-4 supported by an organization described by Subdivision (1); or 2-5 (B) has a curriculum directed toward the 2-6 propagation of a particular religion. 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.