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ARTICLE · 31 AUGUST 2017

New Texas Laws Taking Effect September 1, 2017

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Though employment issues were not the focus of the 85th Regular and Special Legislative Sessions of the Texas Legislature, Texas employers should be aware of a handful of new Texas laws...

United StatesEmployment and HR
Rachel Ullrich
Rachel Ullrich
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Though employment issues were not the focus of the 85th Regular and Special Legislative Sessions of the Texas Legislature, Texas employers should be aware of a handful of new Texas laws which take effect September 1, 2017.

Leave Protection for Foster Parents

The Texas Labor Code added Section 21.0595, which now makes it an unlawful employment practice for employers to have a leave policy which allows an employee to take personal leave to care for or otherwise assist a sick biological or adopted child but does not provide that same leave for a foster child. The statute does not require an employer to provide such leave, but if such a leave policy exists it must also apply to foster parents. Texas employers should review their leave policies to make sure they do not specifically exclude foster children or list only biological or adopted children as covered.

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