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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the recruitment, employment, and retention of certain |
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Department of Family and Protective Services caseworkers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 40.0327 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 40.0327. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF CASEWORKERS. |
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The department shall improve its recruitment and retention efforts |
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by: |
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(1) offering a recruitment and retention bonus for |
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direct delivery caseworker positions experiencing the highest |
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turnover; |
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(2) standardizing the certification process for all |
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child protective services caseworkers regardless of category so |
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that each caseworker will be eligible for promotion not later than |
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the end of the 18th month after the date the caseworker begins |
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employment; |
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(3) expanding the department's educational stipend |
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program; and |
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(4) improving employee training. |
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SECTION 2. On and after the effective date of this Act, the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services shall hire all |
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entry-level caseworkers at the level of Protective Services |
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Specialist II. On the effective date of this Act, the department |
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shall promote all employees employed at the level of Protective |
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Services Specialist I to Protective Services Specialist II. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |