Texas Legislature Limits Employers' Right to Prohibit Concealed Carry License Holder Employees from Carrying Firearms in their Cars on Employer Property

The Texas Legislature passed SB 321 and sent it to the Governor for approval.  The bill restricts public and private employers from prohibiting an employees who are concealed handgun license holders, or or otherwise lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition, from transporting or storing firearms or ammunition in the employee's privately-owned, locked car on the employer's premises. This bill does not apply to an employer owned or leased car; most school districts, chemical manufacturers and oil/gas refiners.

Because the bill prohibits employers from banning firearms in most employee's cars, it also provides employers with immunity from civil liability for injury, death, property damage or other damages arising out of an incident involving a firearm or ammunition that the employer is required to allow on its property.

The law, if signed by the Governor, is effective September 1, 2011.  You can download the text of the bill here

Texas Legislative Update: Bills Affecting Texas Employers

On March 20, 2009 I posted an entry about several leave of absence bills pending in the Texas Legislature.  Today I want to highlight a few other bills that will effect Texas employers if passed.

  • HB 32  Prohibiting discrimination against employees of workers' compensation nonsubscribers who sustain an injury in the course and scope of their employment.
  • HB 183  A bill to link the Texas minimum wage to the federal minimum wage.
  • HB 226 Prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee that has refused to participate in an employer's charitable deduction campaign.  
  • HB 978  To amend, and greatly expand, prohibited disability discrimination under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act.
  • SB 730 prohibits an employer from implementing policies prohibiting employees from keeping legal firearms and ammunition in locked vehicles on the employer's parking lot.
  • SB 986 To extend the statute of limitations for discrimination claims alleging discrimination in the payment of compensation.  State law equivalent of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

There are also a number of immigration bills pending this session.  Michael Fox has detailed those bills on his blog.