HBA-EDN H.B. 1761 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1761 By: Turner, Sylvester Economic Development 3/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE For a parent to be an active participant in their child's education, it is often necessary for the parent to meet with their child's school principal, counselor, or teacher if a situation arises regarding their child. In recent years it has become increasingly difficult for parents to take time away from work if such a situation arises. House Bill 1761 entitles employees to an allotted amount of time that the employee may take off work to meet with certain persons affecting their child's education. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Workforce Commission in SECTION 1 (Sec. 83.005, Labor Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 1761 amends the Labor Code to entitle an employee who has been employed by the same employer for at least six consecutive months to up to 10 hours of leave in each 12-month period to meet with the teacher, school counselor, or principal of the employee's child. The bill authorizes leave taken to be unpaid and authorizes, but does not require an employee to use existing vacation, personal, compensatory, or other appropriate paid leave time for a planned absence. The bill provides that an employee must provide the employer with written notice at least 24 hours before the planned absence unless the leave is immediate and unplanned due to an emergency situation involving the employee's child. H.B. 1761 prohibits an employer from suspending or terminating the employment of, or otherwise discriminating against, an employee who takes leave if the employee has given written notice or taken emergency leave. The bill sets forth remedies for an employee whose employment is suspended or terminated in violation of these provisions. H.B. 1761 requires each employer to post a conspicuous sign in a prominent location in the workplace informing employees of their rights under these provisions. The bill requires the Texas Workforce Commission, by rule, to prescribe the design and content of the sign. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.