By: Flores H.B. No. 88
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to workplace heat illness prevention, including the
  creation of a heat illness prevention advisory board; imposing
  administrative penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 53 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 53. WORKPLACE HEAT SAFETY
         Sec. 53.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Advisory board" means the heat illness prevention
  advisory board established under Section 53.003.
               (2)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce
  Commission.
               (3)  "Employer" means a person who employs one or more
  employees.
               (4)  "Heat illness" means a serious medical condition
  resulting from the body's inability to cope with a particular heat
  load and includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and
  heat stroke.
               (5)  "Heat safety expert" means an individual who:
                     (A)  holds a certification or educational degree
  in environmental science, human physiology, medicine, occupational
  safety, public health, or a related field; and
                     (B)  performs work focused on heat safety in the
  workplace.
         Sec. 53.002.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to all
  employers in this state, regardless of the location of employment,
  type of employment, or size or type of employer.
         Sec. 53.003.  HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION ADVISORY BOARD. (a)  A
  heat illness prevention advisory board is established to assist the
  commission in adopting heat illness prevention standards under this
  chapter.
         (b)  The advisory board consists of the following members
  appointed by the commission:
               (1)  two members who are heat safety experts;
               (2)  two members who are employed as construction
  workers;
               (3)  one member who is an employer;
               (4)  one member who is a representative of a nonprofit
  organization engaged in worker safety issues; and
               (5)  one member who is a representative of construction
  worker labor unions.
         (c)  The advisory board shall develop and recommend to the
  commission heat illness prevention standards, consistent with this
  chapter, that are designed to protect employees from heat illness
  in indoor and outdoor worksites.
         Sec. 53.004.  HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION STANDARDS. (a)  The
  commission by rule shall adopt heat illness prevention standards.  
  In adopting the standards, the commission shall give full
  consideration to the recommendations the advisory board makes under
  Section 53.003(c).
         (b)  The heat illness prevention standards must:
               (1)  be consistent with the standards and
  recommendations relating to heat and workforce safety contained in
  the Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to
  Heat and Hot Environments published by the National Institute for
  Occupational Safety and Health, as those standards and
  recommendations existed on October 1, 2023; and
               (2)  include:
                     (A)  requirements for providing:
                           (i)  drinking water;
                           (ii)  access to nearby shade or
  climate-controlled environments, restrooms, and handwashing
  stations; and
                           (iii)  rest periods;
                     (B)  standards for effective emergency response
  procedures;
                     (C)  standards for heat acclimatization;
                     (D)  training on heat and workforce safety for
  employees and supervisors; and
                     (E)  other related standards for protecting
  workers from heat illness.
         Sec. 53.005.  NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES. (a)  Each employer shall
  post in a conspicuous place accessible to employees the notice the
  commission prescribes under Subsection (b) at:
               (1)  the employer's place of business; and
               (2)  if applicable, the worksite at which employees
  perform job duties for the employer.
         (b)  The commission shall prescribe the form and content of
  the employer notice required by Subsection (a) and make the notice
  available on the commission's Internet website.  The notice must:
               (1)  be in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and any other
  language the commission determines appropriate; and
               (2)  outline:
                     (A)  the heat illness prevention standards the
  commission adopts under this chapter; and
                     (B)  employees' rights under this chapter.
         Sec. 53.006.  EMPLOYEE TRAINING REQUIRED. Each employer
  shall provide training to the employer's employees about the
  commission's heat illness prevention standards as the standards
  relate to employees, supervisors, and employers.  The training,
  including any related written materials, must be provided to each
  employee in a language that the employee understands.
         Sec. 53.007.  UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE. An employer
  commits an unlawful employment practice under this chapter if the
  employer retaliates or discriminates against an employee who:
               (1)  experiences heat illness in the workplace;
               (2)  reports to the employer an instance of heat
  illness or a violation of this chapter or other applicable
  standards;
               (3)  files a complaint with the commission related to a
  violation of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;
               (4)  files an action related to a violation of this
  chapter or rules adopted under this chapter; or
               (5)  testifies, assists, or participates in any manner
  in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this chapter.
         Sec. 53.008.  ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY.  The commission shall
  assess an administrative penalty in an amount that is at least
  $1,000 against an employer for each violation of this chapter or a
  rule adopted under this chapter.  Each day a violation continues or
  occurs is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a penalty.
         Sec. 53.009.  CIVIL LIABILITY. (a)  In addition to any
  administrative penalty assessed under this chapter, an employer is
  liable in a civil action for personal injury, death, or other
  damages caused by the employer's failure to comply with the heat
  illness prevention standards the commission adopts. An employee is
  not required to exhaust any applicable administrative remedies
  before filing an action under this section.
         (b)  An employee who prevails in an action against an
  employer under this section is entitled to recover from the
  employer court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
         (c)  A court that finds that an employer knowingly violated
  the heat illness prevention standards adopted under this chapter
  shall award exemplary damages in an amount equal to three times the
  amount of compensatory damages awarded to the employee.
         SECTION 2.  (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, but not later than March 1, 2024, the Texas
  Workforce Commission shall appoint the advisory board members to
  the heat illness prevention advisory board established under
  Section 53.003, Labor Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than May 1, 2024, the heat illness prevention
  advisory board shall submit to the Texas Workforce Commission the
  recommended workplace heat illness prevention standards the board
  develops under Section 53.003(c), Labor Code, as added by this Act.
         (c)  Not later than June 1, 2024, the Texas Workforce
  Commission shall:
               (1)  adopt heat illness prevention standards as
  required by Section 53.004, Labor Code, as added by this Act; and
               (2)  prescribe the employer notice required by Section
  53.005, Labor Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  An employer is not required to comply with
  Chapter 53, Labor Code, as added by this Act, before June 1, 2024.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies
  only to an unlawful employment practice that occurs on or after June
  1, 2024.
         (b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to a
  cause of action that accrues on or after June 1, 2024.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.