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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a prohibition on state travel to a state with laws |
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allowing or requiring discrimination based on sexual orientation or |
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gender identity or expression. |
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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 620 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 620. PROHIBITION ON STATE TRAVEL TO STATES WITH CERTAIN |
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DISCRIMINATORY LAWS |
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Sec. 620.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Gender identity or expression" means having or |
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being perceived as having gender-related identity, appearance, |
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expression, or behavior, regardless of whether that identity, |
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appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that commonly |
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associated with the individual's actual or perceived sex. |
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(2) "Sexual orientation" means the actual or perceived |
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status of an individual with respect to the individual's sexuality. |
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(3) "State agency" means a board, commission, |
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department, office, or other agency in the executive or legislative |
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branch of state government. The term includes an institution of |
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higher education, the senate, and the house of representatives. |
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(4) "State employee" means a person who receives |
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compensation for service performed, other than as an independent |
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contractor, for a state agency. The term includes a state officer or |
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a member of the senate or house of representatives. |
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Sec. 620.002. APPLICABILITY. (a) Except as provided by |
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Subsection (b), this chapter applies only to travel to a state other |
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than this state that, after June 26, 2015, enacted a law that: |
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(1) voids or repeals any existing protection against |
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discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender |
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identity or expression; |
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(2) authorizes or requires discrimination against |
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same-sex couples or their families or on the basis of sexual |
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orientation or gender identity or expression; or |
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(3) creates an exemption to an antidiscrimination law |
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in order to permit discrimination against same-sex couples or their |
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families or on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or |
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expression. |
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(b) This chapter does not apply to travel to a state |
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described by Subsection (a) after the date all laws described by |
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Subsections (a)(1)-(3) are repealed or otherwise become |
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ineffective in that state. |
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Sec. 620.003. CERTAIN STATE TRAVEL PROHIBITED. A state |
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agency may not: |
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(1) require a state employee to travel to a state |
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described by Section 620.002(a); or |
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(2) except as provided by Section 620.004, approve a |
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request for state-funded or state-sponsored travel to a state |
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described by Section 620.002(a). |
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Sec. 620.004. EXCEPTIONS. Section 620.003(2) does not |
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apply to travel that is required for: |
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(1) enforcement of this state's law, including |
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auditing or revenue collection; |
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(2) litigation; |
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(3) compliance with a contractual obligation incurred |
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before September 1, 2017; |
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(4) compliance with a federal government request to |
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appear before a committee; |
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(5) participation in training or a meeting, if |
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participation is required by a grant or required to maintain grant |
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funding; |
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(6) completion of job training necessary to maintain a |
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license or a similar requirement to hold a position, if the training |
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is not available in this state or a state to which Section |
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620.002(a) does not apply; or |
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(7) the protection of public health, welfare, or |
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safety as determined by the state agency. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |