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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an annual workplace climate survey conducted by state |
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agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 651, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 651.011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 651.011. ANNUAL WORKPLACE CLIMATE SURVEY. (a) In this |
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section, "state agency" means a board, commission, council, |
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committee, department, office, or other agency in the executive, |
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legislative, or judicial branch of state government. The term |
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includes an institution of higher education as defined by Section |
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61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) Not later than August 1 of each year, each state agency |
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shall conduct a workplace climate survey of agency employees to |
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gather information on the incidence of sexual harassment in the |
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agency's workplace and means of addressing the harassment. The |
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survey must: |
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(1) be voluntary for participants; |
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(2) allow participants to maintain anonymity and |
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confidentiality of responses; and |
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(3) be based on scientific research and workplace best |
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practices. |
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(c) Each state agency shall: |
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(1) review the survey responses to identify any |
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elements of the agency's workplace climate that may be associated |
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with sexual harassment; and |
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(2) make reasonable efforts to address elements |
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identified under Subdivision (1) and reduce sexual harassment in |
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the agency's workplace based on the responses provided in the |
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survey. |
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SECTION 2. A state agency is not required to comply with |
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Section 651.011, Government Code, as added by this Act, until |
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August 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |