87R3165 JSC-D
 
  By: Campbell S.B. No. 551
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to wages and employment benefits.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Texas Small
  Business Protection Act.
         SECTION 2.  Section 62.002, Labor Code, is amended by adding
  Subdivision (8) to read as follows:
               (8)  "Wages" has the meaning assigned by Section
  61.001.
         SECTION 3.  Subtitle D, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 83 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 83. PROHIBITION AGAINST LOCAL REGULATION OF EMPLOYMENT
  BENEFITS
         Sec. 83.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Employee" means an individual who is employed by
  an employer for compensation.
               (2)  "Employer" means a person who employs one or more
  employees.
               (3)  "Employment benefit" means anything of value that
  an employee receives from an employer in addition to monetary
  compensation, including:
                     (A)  health, disability, retirement,
  profit-sharing, and death benefits;
                     (B)  group accidental death and dismemberment
  benefits; and
                     (C)  paid days off from work for holidays, sick
  leave, vacation, and personal necessity.
         Sec. 83.002.  PROHIBITION AGAINST MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY
  REQUIRING EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. A municipality or county may not
  adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, rule, or regulation that
  requires an employer in the municipality or county to provide
  employment benefits.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 83, Labor Code, as added by this Act,
  applies to an ordinance, order, rule, or regulation adopted before,
  on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.