88(4) SB 28 - Introduced version - Bill Text
  88S40129 SCP-F
 
  By:  Eckhardt S.B.  No.  28
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to paid rest breaks for construction employees of
  construction contractors and subcontractors; providing an
  administrative penalty.
               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
               SECTION  1.     Subtitle D, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 83 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 83. PAID REST BREAKS FOR CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYEES
               Sec.  83.001.    DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
                           (1)    "Commission"  means the Texas Workforce
  Commission.
                           (2)    "Construction employee" means an individual paid
  by a construction employer to perform general construction work or
  services.
                           (3)    "Construction employer"  means a contractor or
  subcontractor who employs one or more construction employees in
  this state.
                           (4)    "Contractor" means a person, firm, or corporation
  contracting for general construction.
                           (5)    "General construction" means the:
                                       (A)    erection of or preparation to erect a
  structure;
                                       (B)    remodeling, extension, repair, or demolition
  of a structure; or
                                       (C)    other improvement of real property or a
  structure related to real property.
                           (6)    "Rest break" means a break from work during work
  hours.  The term does not include a regular meal break period
  provided to a construction employee by a construction employer.
                           (7)    "Subcontractor" means a person, firm, or
  corporation contracting with a contractor for general
  construction.
               Sec.  83.002.    PAID REST BREAKS REQUIRED.  (a)  A construction
  employer shall provide at least a 15-minute paid rest break for
  every four hours of work to each construction employee.
               (b)    The construction employer may not require the paid rest
  break to be taken as part of a separate meal break.
               Sec.  83.003.    NOTICE TO CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYEES.  (a)  Each
  construction employer shall, at the time of hiring, provide notice
  in both English and Spanish to each construction employee:
                           (1)    of the employee's entitlement to paid rest breaks
  under this chapter;
                           (2)    that retaliation by the employer against the
  employee for requesting or taking paid rest breaks to which the
  employee is entitled under this chapter is prohibited; and
                           (3)    that the employee has a right to file a complaint
  with the commission for any violation of this chapter.
               (b)    A construction employer may comply with this section by
  displaying a sign in a conspicuous place, accessible to
  construction employees, at the employer's place of business and at
  the applicable construction work site that contains the information
  required by this section in both English and Spanish.
               (c)    The commission by rule shall prescribe the design and
  content of the sign described by Subsection (b).
               Sec.  83.004.    RETALIATION PROHIBITED.  A construction
  employer may not take retaliatory personnel action or otherwise
  discriminate against a construction employee because the employee:
                           (1)    requests or takes paid rest breaks in accordance
  with this chapter; or
                           (2)    files a complaint with the commission alleging the
  employer's violation of this chapter.
               Sec.  83.005.    COMPLAINT; HEARING; PENALTY. (a)  Any
  construction employee aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may
  file a claim w

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()