Texas Commission on Human Rights Act : Procedures and Remedies

• Author: James R. (Rod) Tanner
• Pages: 598-676

18-598

Chapter 18

TExAS COMMISSION ON

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT:

PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES

By James R. (Rod) Tanner

18:1. INTRODUCTION

18:2. RELATIONSHIP WITH FEDERAL LAW

A. TCHRA Correlates State Law With Federal Law

B. Impact on Commission

18:3. COMMISSION’S STATUS AND AUTHORITY UNDER TCHRA

A. Mission and Philosophy

B. Organization

C. Powers and Duties

1. General Powers

2. Duties

18:4. COMMISSION’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EEOC

A. Statutory Relationship

B. Contractual Relationship

1. Charge Filing Arrangements

a. Dual Filing

b. Agency Jurisdiction

c. Assistance to Complainants

d. Transfer of Charges

e. Charge Form

f. Notification to Parties

2. Division of Charge Processing Responsibilities

a. Charges Initially Processed by Commission

b. Charges Initially Processed by EEOC

c. Commission’s Waiver of Exclusive Jurisdiction

18-599 Texas Commission on human righTs aCT: proCeDures anD remeDies

3. Exchange of Information

4. Resolution of Charges

a. Federal Funding

b. EEOC Review and Acceptance

5. Implementation of Work Sharing Agreement

18:5. LOCAL ENFORCEMENT

A. Overview

B. Powers and Duties of Local Commissions

1. General Powers and Duties

2. Powers of Investigation and Conciliation

3. Authority to File Civil Actions

C. Relationship of Texas Commission to Local Commissions

1. Referral to Local Commission

2. Action on Complaints

3. Local Commission Referral to Texas Commission

18:6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

A. Overview

B. Statute of Limitations

1. Occurrence of Unlawful Employment Practice

2. Timeliness Under Deferral Procedures

3. Relation Back Rule

4. Continuing Violation Doctrine

C. Complaint

1. Filing Requirement

2. Requisites

3. Covered Entities

4. Single Filing Rule

5. Initial Processing

D. Voluntary Resolution

E. Investigation

1. Procedures

2. Maintenance of Records

3. Confidentiality

4. Termination of Authority

Texas employmenT law 18-600

F. Reasonable Cause Determination

G. Notice of Right to File Suit

18:7. JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT

A. Actions Authorized by TCHRA

1. Civil Action by Texas Commission

a. Temporary Injunctive Relief

b. Permanent Relief

2. Civil Action by Local Commission

3. Civil Action by Complainant

4. Intervention

a. Complainant

b. Commission

B. Limitation of Actions

1. Commencement

2. Equitable Tolling

3. Summary Judgment

C. Parties

1. Parties Plaintiff

a. Personal Cause of Action

b. Survival of Cause of Action

c. Union Members

2. Parties Defendant

3. Joinder of Commission

D. Scope of Civil Action

E. Venue

F. Removal of Action

G. Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel

H. Proof of Discrimination

1. Disparate Treatment Cases

a. Individual Disparate Treatment

b. Cat’s Paw Doctrine

c. Mixed Motives Doctrine

d. Systemic Disparate Treatment

2. Disparate Impact Cases