Amend HB 550 (Senate committee printing) by adding the 
following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and 
renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill appropriately:
	SECTION ___.  Subtitle D, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by 
adding Chapter 84 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 84.  EMPLOYEE RIGHT TO TIME OFF FOLLOWING VIOLENCE AGAINST 
EMPLOYEE OR CERTAIN FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS
	Sec. 84.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "family 
violence" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.004, Family Code.
	Sec. 84.002.  APPLICATION.  This chapter applies only to an 
employee: 
		(1)  employed by an employer who employs at least 50 
employees;      
		(2)  who has been employed by the employer from whom the 
employee seeks leave under this chapter for at least three months; 
and
		(3)  who is a victim of family violence or whose spouse, 
child, parent, or household member is a victim of family violence.
	Sec. 84.003.  RIGHT TO TIME OFF; LIMITATIONS.  (a)  Except as 
provided by Subsections (b) and (c), an employee to whom this 
chapter applies is entitled to time off as provided by this section 
to:
		(1)  seek an injunction, protective order, or other 
order against the perpetrator of family violence against the 
employee or the employee's family or household member;
		(2)  obtain medical care or mental health counseling, 
or both, for physical or psychological injuries suffered by the 
employee or the employee's family or household member as a result of 
family violence;
		(3)  obtain services from a victim services 
organization, including a family violence center or program or a 
rape crisis center, for the employee or the employee's family or 
household member in relation to the occurrence of family violence;
		(4)  participate in safety planning or temporary or 
permanent relocation or take any other action necessary to increase 
the safety of the employee or the employee's family or household 
member following the occurrence of family violence; or
		(5)  seek legal assistance to address issues arising 
from the occurrence of family violence.
	(b)  Before taking time off under this section, an employee 
must provide the employer with reasonable advance notice of the 
planned absence of the employee, unless the employee determines 
that providing notice is impracticable under the circumstances.
	(c)  An employee is entitled under this section to not more 
than five days of leave, excluding weekend days and legal holidays, 
in any 12-month period.
	Sec. 84.004.  USE OF LEAVE TIME; EFFECT ON EMPLOYEE PAY.  (a)  
An employee who has existing vacation leave time, personal leave 
time, sick leave time, or compensatory leave time must use that 
leave time for a planned absence authorized by this chapter.  An 
employer may waive the requirements of this subsection.
	(b)  An employer is not required to compensate an employee 
during a planned absence authorized by this chapter unless the 
employee is using leave time under Subsection (a).
	Sec. 84.005.  CONFIDENTIALITY.  An employer shall maintain 
the confidentiality of the fact that an employee has requested or 
obtained time off under this chapter and any written document or 
record submitted to the employer by the employee relating to a 
request for time off under this chapter, except to the extent that 
disclosure is:
		(1)  requested or consented to in writing by the 
employee; or        
		(2)  required by other state or federal law.                           
	Sec. 84.006.  UNLAWFUL ACTION AGAINST EMPLOYEE.  (a)  An 
employer may not interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, 
or the attempt to exercise, any right provided to an employee under 
this chapter.
	(b)  An employer may not suspend or terminate the employment 
of, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against an 
employee who takes time off authorized by this chapter if the 
employee has provided written notice as required by this chapter.
	(c)  An employee who takes time off under this chapter has no 
greater right to continued employment or to other benefits and 
conditions of employment than if the employee were not entitled to 
time off under this chapter.
	(d)  This chapter does not limit an employer's right to 
discipline or terminate an employee for any reason, including due 
to a reduction in workforce or for cause, other than for the 
exercise by the employee of a right to which the employee is 
entitled under this chapter or as prohibited by other law.
	Sec. 84.007.  CIVIL REMEDY. (a) Notwithstanding any other 
law, the sole remedy for a person claiming to be aggrieved by a 
violation of this chapter by an employer is to bring a civil suit 
for damages or equitable relief, or both, in district court.  The 
person may claim as damages all wages and benefits lost as a result 
of the violation by the employer, up to and including the date of 
the judgment, except that the person may not claim wages or benefits 
that accrued during a period of leave granted without pay under this 
chapter.
	(b)  This section does not relieve a claimant from any 
obligation to mitigate damages.