Texas leaders vow to improve Capitol’s harassment policies

House, Senate reviewing guidelines and training requirements for members

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott and other top officials are vowing to work with the Texas Legislature to make improvements to the Capitol’s sexual harassment policies.

Their commitment comes after state Rep. Linda Koop, R-Dallas, asked Abbott for changes because the staff was not “fully educated as to where to report misconduct or harassment.” Her request was prompted by multiple media reports in recent weeks about sexual harassment at the Texas Capitol and around the country.

Lawmakers in California, Arizona, Minnesota, Kentucky and other capitols face allegation of sexual harassment or other improper behavior as female lawmakers, lobbyists and others speak out against what they say is pervasive behavior.

Alabama Republican Roy Moore, who is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate, was publicly accused by eight women of making sexual advances toward them when they were teenagers and Moore was in his 30s. Lawmakers from both parties have called for him to drop out of the race, but Moore said he will stay in. Slew of allegations

Citing the slew of allegations in the Moore race and in other states, Koop said the reports “make me concerned for the safety of our Capitol staffers, interns, reporters, lobbyists and all those whowork at the Capitol.

In Texas, the Daily Beast and The Texas Tribune have reported on sexual harassment incidents at the Capitol or in interactions with lawmakers. Few of the victims and lawmakers have been publicly named.

“Many of our staff and interns are young people and may be particularly vulnerable to those in positions of power,” Koop wrote. “It is the duty of us elected officials to protect them; a responsibility I know we both take very seriously.”

A spokeswoman for Abbott said the governor believes in, and enforces, a zerotolerance sexual harassment policy.

“No victim should ever fear reprisal or retaliation for rejecting unwanted advances or for filing a sexual harassment complaint,” said Ciara Matthews, the spokeswoman.

Every employee in the governor’s office is required to participate in Equal Employment Opportunity training within 30 days of being hired, and again every year after that, according to Matthews.

“The governor will work with the Legislature on any improvements that provide further protections and deliver the respect everyone deserves and that as a state we should demand,” she said. No formal complaints

The Texas Tribune reported Monday that while the House and Senate have sexual harassment policies in place, there have been no formal complaints of sexual harassment filed in either chamber since 2011. The Tribune said few of the employees it interviews knew they could file a formal complaint.

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is directing the House Administration Committee and House Business Office to review the chamber’s sexual harassment policy and make any updates or revisions necessary.

Jason Embry, his spokesman, also said Straus is directing the offices to develop a sexual harassment training for all House members.

“In addition to requiring the Speaker’s staffand all central House staff to take part in the training, Speaker Straus will strongly encourage all members to do so and to ensure that their employees take part as well,” Embry said.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who heads the state Senate, gave a similar response to The Texas Tribune. A spokesman told the Tribune that Patrick asked Senate Administration Committee Chairwoman Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, to review the chamber’s procedures to “make sure they are current and effectively protect every state employee.”