84R2169 MCK-F
 
  By: Parker H.B. No. 996
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the effect of certain agreements with a collective
  bargaining organization on certain state-funded public work
  contracts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter T, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.7761 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.7761.  AGREEMENT WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
  ORGANIZATION. (a) In this section, "public work contract" means a
  contract for constructing, altering, or repairing a public building
  or carrying out or completing any public work.
         (b)  An institution of higher education awarding a public
  work contract funded with state money, including the issuance of
  debt guaranteed by the state, may not:
               (1)  prohibit, require, discourage, or encourage a
  person bidding on the public work contract, including a contractor
  or subcontractor, from entering into or adhering to an agreement
  with a collective bargaining organization relating to the project;
  or
               (2)  discriminate against a person  described by
  Subdivision (1) based on the person's involvement in the agreement,
  including the person's:
                     (A)  status or lack of status as a party to the
  agreement; or
                     (B)  willingness or refusal to enter into the
  agreement.
         (c)  This section may not be construed to:
               (1)  prohibit activity protected by the National Labor
  Relations Act (29 U.S.C. Section 151 et seq.), including entering
  into an agreement with a collective bargaining organization
  relating to the project; or
               (2)  permit conduct prohibited under the National Labor
  Relations Act (29 U.S.C. Section 151 et seq.).
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 2269, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2269.0541 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2269.0541.  AGREEMENT WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
  ORGANIZATION. (a) A governmental entity awarding a public work
  contract funded with state money, including the issuance of debt
  guaranteed by the state, may not:
               (1)  prohibit, require, discourage, or encourage a
  person bidding on the public work contract, including a contractor
  or subcontractor, from entering into or adhering to an agreement
  with a collective bargaining organization relating to the project;
  or
               (2)  discriminate against a person described by
  Subdivision (1) based on the person's involvement in the agreement,
  including the person's:
                     (A)  status or lack of status as a party to the
  agreement; or
                     (B)  willingness or refusal to enter into the
  agreement.
         (b)  This section may not be construed to:
               (1)  prohibit activity protected by the National Labor
  Relations Act (29 U.S.C. Section 151 et seq.), including entering
  into an agreement with a collective bargaining organization
  relating to the project; or
               (2)  permit conduct prohibited under the National Labor
  Relations Act (29 U.S.C. Section 151 et seq.).
         SECTION 3.  Section 51.7761, Education Code, and Section
  2269.0541, Government Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a
  public work contract for which an invitation for offers, request
  for proposals, request for qualifications, or other similar
  solicitation is first published or distributed on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A public work contract for which an
  invitation for offers, request for proposals, request for
  qualifications, or other similar solicitation is first published or
  distributed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law in effect at the time the invitation, request, or other
  solicitation is published or distributed, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.