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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the right of a public employee to express breast milk in |
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the workplace. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 619 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 619. RIGHT TO EXPRESS BREAST MILK |
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IN THE WORKPLACE |
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Sec. 619.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "public |
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employer" means a: |
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(1) county, municipality, or other political |
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subdivision of this state, including a school district; or |
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(2) board, commission, office, department, or other |
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agency in the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of state |
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government, including an institution of higher education. |
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Sec. 619.002. RIGHT TO EXPRESS BREAST MILK. An employee of a |
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public employer is entitled to express breast milk at the |
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employee's workplace. |
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Sec. 619.003. POLICY ON EXPRESSING BREAST MILK. (a) A |
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public employer shall develop a written policy on the expression of |
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breast milk by employees under this chapter. |
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(b) A policy developed under Subsection (a) must state that |
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the public employer shall: |
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(1) support the practice of expressing breast milk; |
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and |
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(2) make reasonable accommodations for the needs of |
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employees who express breast milk. |
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Sec. 619.004. PUBLIC EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES. A public |
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employer shall: |
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(1) provide a reasonable amount of break time for an |
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employee to express breast milk each time the employee has need to |
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express the milk; and |
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(2) provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is |
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shielded from view and free from intrusion from other employees and |
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the public where the employee can express breast milk. |
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Sec. 619.005. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. A public employer |
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may not suspend or terminate the employment of, or otherwise |
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discriminate against, an employee because the employee has asserted |
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the employee's rights under this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |