Sec. 52.051. PENALIZING EMPLOYEE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SUBPOENA

(a) An employer may not discharge, discipline, or penalize in any manner an employee because the employee complies with a valid subpoena to appear in a civil, criminal, legislative, or administrative proceeding.

(b) If the subpoena to which a violation of Subsection (a) applies is issued by a court, the employer violating Subsection (a) may be found in contempt by the court issuing the subpoena.

(c) If the subpoena to which a violation of Subsection (a) applies is issued by a legislative committee or a state agency, the employer violating Subsection (a) is subject to the authority of the committee or agency to impose a monetary penalty, not to exceed $500, on a person who violates an order of the committee or agency.

(d) An employee discharged in violation of this section is entitled to return to the same employment that the employee had at the time the employee was subpoenaed if the employee, as soon as practical after release from compliance with the subpoena, gives the employer actual notice that the employee intends to return.

(e) An employee injured because of the violation of this section by an employer may recover:

(1) damages in an amount that does not exceed six months' compensation at the rate at which the employee was compensated when the subpoena was issued; and

(2) reasonable attorney's fees.

(f) It is a defense to an action by an employee under this section for reemployment that reemployment is impossible or unreasonable because of a change in the employer's circumstances while the employee complied with the subpoena.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.