HB2111 - Relating to the establishment of the Texas Pay Equity Task Force.

  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.