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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the recruitment and retention of certain caseworkers |
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employed by the Department of Family and Protective Services. |
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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 Sections 40.0327 and 40.0328 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 40.0327. PREEMPLOYMENT ASSESSMENT; PREFERENCE. |
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(a) The department shall use special assessment tools in screening |
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applicants for employment with the child protective services |
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division in order to match an applicant with the position in the |
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division for which an applicant would be best suited based on the |
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applicant's skills, personality traits, and experience. |
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(b) The department shall give favorable consideration to an |
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applicant for an entry-level caseworker position who has a master's |
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degree or bachelor's degree in social work over other applicants |
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who have comparable skills. |
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Sec. 40.0328. SALARY STUDY. (a) The department shall study |
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the salaries of each type of child protective services caseworker |
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to determine the role salary plays in the recruitment and retention |
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of caseworkers and in the turnover rate for each type of caseworker. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2012, the department shall |
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report the results of the study and any recommendations to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and standing committee of each house of the |
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legislature with jurisdiction over the department. |
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(c) The commission shall consider contracting with an |
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institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, |
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Education Code, to perform the study required by this section. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2011. |