HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS BUDGET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT Administration Building 1001 Preston, Suite 500 Houston, TX 77002 (713) 274-1100 June 25, 2019 To: — County Judge Hidalgo and Commissioners Ellis, Garcia, Radack and Cagle Fm: David Kester CK Re: Clarification of §§ 3.01 and 4.012 of the Harris County Personnel Policies & Procedures Commissioners Court approved the current version of the Harris County Personnel Policies & Procedures effective November 25, 2017. From time to time, these regulations are amended to incorporate changes in law or new policies to be considered by the Court. At the request of Commissioner Precinct One and in consultation with the County Attorney’s Office, it is recommend that §§ 3.01 and 4.012 of the Harris County Personnel Policies & Procedures be amended to clarify that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected characte The revision would be effective June 26, 2019. An order, as prepared by the County Attorney’s office is attached for your approval If you have any questions or require additional information, please let me know. Attachment DeK2249ORDER OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. Authorizing amendments to Sections 3.01 and 4.012 of the Harris County Personnel Policies & Procedures ‘The Commissioners Court of Harris County, Texas, convened at a meeting of the Court atthe Harris Connty Administration Building in the City of Houston, Texas, onthe 25th day of June, 2019, with all ‘members present except ‘A quorum was present, Among other business, the following was transacted: ORDER AMENDING SECTIONS 3.01 AND 4.012 OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICIES & PROCEDURES Commissioner introduced an order and made a motion that the same be adopted. Commissioner seconded the motion for adoption of the order. The motion, carrying with it the adoption of the order, prevailed by the following vote: Vote of the Court Yes No Abstain Judge Hidalgo ooo 0 Comm. Ellis eres al 0 Comm. Garcia ooo D ‘Comm. Radack etece a D Comm. Cagle o ao oD ‘The County Judge thereupon announced that the motion had duly and lawfully carried and that the order had been duly and lewfully adopted. The order thus adopted follows Itis ordered that Section 3.01 of the Harris County Personnel Policies & Procedures, which currently states: Harris County and the Harris County Flood Control District provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. No Department Head or employee may fail or refuse to hire or discharge any individual, or discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, and compensation Religious discrimination includes failing to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee's religious practices when the accommodation does not impose an undue hardship, Nor may any Department Head or employee limit, segregate, or classify employees in any way that ‘would deprive or tend to deprive them of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect their status as employees, because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy, isability, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Is hereby amended to read: Harris County and the Harris County Flood Control District provide equal employment ‘opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and statelaws. No Department Head or employee may fail or refuse to hire or discharge any individual, or discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, and compensation. Religious discrimination includes failing to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee’s religious practices when the accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. Nor may any Department Head or employee limit, segregate, or classify employees in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive them of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect their status as employees, because of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any ‘other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Itis also ORDERED that Section 4.012 of the Harris County Policies & Procedures, which currently reads: Harassment on the basis of any of the other protected characteristics is also strictly prohibited. Those protected characteristics are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Is hereby amended to read: Harassment on the basis of any of the other protected characteristics is also strictly prohibited. Those protected characteristics are race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, All Harris County officials and employees are authorized to do any and all things necessary or convenient to accomplish the purposes of this order.