(a) A person may telephone, write, visit, e-mail, fax, or otherwise contact CRD or a local commission office recognized by EEOC as a Fair Employment Practices Agency to obtain information on filing a complaint with CRD.     
      (b) At the complainant's request, CRD:      
        (1) shall confer with the complainant about the facts and circumstances that may constitute the alleged unlawful employment practice;       
        (2) shall assist the complainant in perfecting the complaint if the facts and circumstances appear to constitute an alleged unlawful employment practice; or       
        (3) may advise the complainant if the facts and circumstances presented to CRD do not appear to constitute an unlawful employment practice.       
      (c) The complaint shall be filed in writing and either signed under oath or subscribed by the person making the declaration as true under penalty of perjury and in substantially the form prescribed by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 132, or its successor statute. It may be filed with CRD by mail, electronic communication, fax, or in person with:      
        (1) the CRD office on a CRD-provided form;       
        (2) an EEOC office; or       
        (3) a local commission office recognized by EEOC as a Fair Employment Practices Agency.       
      (d) The complaint shall set forth the following information:      
        (1) Harm experienced by the complainant as a result of the alleged unlawful employment practice;       
        (2) Explanation, if any, given by the employer to the complainant for the alleged unlawful employment practice;       
        (3) A declaration of unlawful discrimination under federal or state law;       
        (4) Facts upon which the complaint is based, including the date, place, and circumstances of the alleged unlawful employment practice; and       
        (5) Sufficient information to enable CRD to identify the employer, e.g., employer ID, business address, and business phone.       
      (e) A complaint shall be filed within 180 days or, for a complaint alleging sexual harassment, within 300 days, after the date on which the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred.     
      (f) A complaint may be withdrawn by a complainant only with the consent of the CRD director.     
      (g) A perfected complaint may be amended by the complainant to cure technical defects or omissions, or to clarify and amplify allegations made therein. Such amendment or amendments alleging additional acts that constitute unlawful employment practices related to or growing out of the subject matter of the original complaint shall relate back to the date the complaint was first filed. CRD shall provide a copy of the perfected complaint to the respondent. An amended perfected complaint shall be subject to the procedures set forth in applicable law.     
      (h) A respondent shall be mailed a copy of the perfected complaint within 10 days after CRD receives the perfected complaint. If CRD receives a complaint that is not perfected within 180 days or, for a complaint alleging sexual harassment, within 300 days, of the alleged unlawful employment practice, CRD shall notify the respondent that a complaint has been filed and the process of perfecting the complaint is in progress.     
      (i) The complainant and respondent shall be advised upon request by CRD of the status of their perfected complaint, unless doing so would jeopardize an undercover investigation by another state, federal, or local government.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §819.41 adopted to be effective September 27, 2005, 30 TexReg 6065; amended to be effective June 16, 2014, 39 TexReg 4659; amended to be effective December 5, 2022, 47 TexReg 8051