Texas has enacted legislation (House Bill 1074) that expands the state's age discrimination law. House Bill 1074 took effect on Sept. 1, 2019.
Background:
Texas Labor Code Section 21.101 prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against individuals because of their age.
However, prior to House Bill 1074, Texas Labor Code Section 21.054(b) provided an exception that excluded individuals aged 56 and older from this protection when it came to selection for apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or other training and retraining programs.
House Bill 1074:
Effective September 1, 2019, House Bill 1074 repeals Texas Labor Code Section 21.054(b). This means that the protection from age discrimination in training programs (and other aspects of employment) will cover all individuals aged 40 and older.
Compliance Recommendations:
Texas employers should review their training and policies to ensure compliance with House Bill 1074. Please contact your dedicated service professional with any questions.