H.B. No. 1043
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of business opportunities for certain
  former foster children.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 672 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 672.  EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE FOR FORMER FOSTER CHILDREN
         Sec. 672.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency"
  means a department, commission, board, office, or other agency in
  the executive branch of state government created by the state
  constitution or a state statute, including an institution of higher
  education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
         Sec. 672.002.  EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE. (a)  An individual
  who was under the permanent managing conservatorship of the
  Department of Family and Protective Services on the day preceding
  the individual's 18th birthday is entitled to a preference in
  employment with a state agency over other applicants for the same
  position who do not have a greater qualification.
         (b)  This chapter does not apply to:
               (1)  the position of private secretary or deputy of an
  official or department; or
               (2)  an individual holding a strictly confidential
  relation to the employing officer.
         Sec. 672.003.  FEDERAL LAW AND GRANTS. To the extent that
  this chapter conflicts with federal law or a limitation provided by
  a federal grant to a state agency, this chapter shall be construed
  to operate in harmony with the federal law or limitation of the
  federal grant.
         Sec. 672.004.  COMPLAINT REGARDING EMPLOYMENT DECISION OF
  STATE AGENCY. (a) An individual entitled to an employment
  preference under this chapter who is aggrieved by a decision of a
  state agency to which this chapter applies relating to hiring the
  individual, or relating to retaining the individual if the state
  agency reduces its workforce, may appeal the decision by filing a
  written complaint with the governing body of the state agency under
  this section.
         (b)  The governing body of a state agency that receives a
  written complaint under Subsection (a) shall respond to the
  complaint not later than the 15th business day after the date the
  governing body receives the complaint. The governing body may
  render a different hiring decision than the decision that is the
  subject of the complaint if the governing body determines that the
  employment preference under this chapter was not applied.
         Sec. 672.005.  AGE LIMIT. An individual is entitled to an
  employment preference under this chapter only if the individual is
  25 years of age or younger.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2303.402(c), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  For the purposes of this section, an economically
  disadvantaged individual is an individual who:
               (1)  was unemployed for at least three months before
  obtaining employment with the qualified business;
               (2)  receives public assistance benefits, including
  welfare payments or food stamps, based on need and intended to
  alleviate poverty;
               (3)  is a low-income individual, as defined by Section
  101, Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801(25));
               (4)  is an individual with a disability, as defined
  by  29 U.S.C. Section 705(20)(A);
               (5)  is an inmate, as defined by Section 498.001;
               (6)  is entering the workplace after being confined in
  a facility operated by the institutional division of the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice or under contract with the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice;
               (7)  has been released by the Texas Youth Commission
  and is on parole, if state law provides for such a person to be on
  parole; [or]
               (8)  meets the current low income or moderate income
  limits developed under Section 8, United States Housing Act of 1937
  (42 U.S.C. Section 1437f et seq.); or
               (9)  was under the permanent managing conservatorship
  of the Department of Family and Protective Services on the day
  preceding the individual's 18th birthday.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1043 was passed by the House on April
  21, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 5, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1043 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 2,
  3 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1043 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor