BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1313

                                                                                                                                       By: Gallegos

State Affairs

3/29/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

A recent publication states that while the number of on-the-job injuries and fatalities in the country are declining nationwide, the opposite is true of non-English speaking workers.  This trend is found across industries.  The Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (TWCC) operates a toll-free telephone service to enable reporting of violations of occupational health or safety laws, but there is no requirement that the telephone service be maintained in a language other than English.

As proposed, S.B. 1313 requires employers to post the toll-free hotline number to report unsafe work conditions both in English and in Spanish.  The bill also requires TWCC to provide access to the hotline in Spanish.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 411.081, Labor Code, as follows:
 
(a) Requires the division of workers' health and safety (division) of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (TWCC) to maintain a 24-hour toll-free telephone service in English and Spanish for reports of violations of occupational health or safety law.
 
(b) Requires each employer to notify its employees of this service in a manner prescribed by TWCC.  Requires TWCC to require the notice to be posted in English and Spanish.
 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.