Reynolds Pay Equity Bill Adds Nine Appointees, Changes No One’s Pay

The text as introduced · 571 words

89R1761 SCL-D

By: Reynolds
H.B. No. 2111

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Texas Pay Equity Task Force.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the Texas

Pay Equity Task Force.

(b) The Texas Pay Equity Task Force is established to assess

whether a disparity exists on the basis of gender, disability, or

race in compensation paid to employees of state agencies, counties,

and municipalities.

(c) The task force is composed of nine members appointed as

follows:

(1) two representatives of state agencies and one

representative of a nonprofit organization engaged in gender,

disability, or race pay equity issues, appointed by the governor;

(2) one representative of a county, one representative

of a municipality, and one representative of a nonprofit

organization engaged in gender, disability, or race pay equity

issues, appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) one representative of a county, one representative

of a municipality, and one representative of a nonprofit

organization engaged in gender, disability, or race pay equity

issues, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for

service on the task force but is, to the extent money is available,

entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses

incurred in performing task force duties. The task force may accept

gifts, grants, and donations to pay for those expenses.

(e) The members of the task force shall elect a presiding

officer from among the membership.

(f) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call

of the presiding officer.

(g) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any

other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call,

videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A

meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or

other similar telecommunication method is subject to the

requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government

Code.

(h) The task force shall conduct a study to determine

whether a disparity exists on the basis of gender, disability, or

race in compensation paid to employees of state agencies, counties,

and municipalities. The task force may request payroll information,

including the gender, disability status, and race of each employee,

from a state agency, county, or municipality, and the state agency,

county, or municipality shall comply with the request.

(i) If the task force determines that a pay disparity

exists, the task force shall develop recommendations to eliminate

the disparity.

(j) The task force shall develop and submit a written report

on the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the

governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than

November 1, 2026.

(k) The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1,

2027.

SECTION 2. Not later than the 30th day following the

effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor,

and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the

members of the Texas Pay Equity Task Force as established by this

Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.