H.B. No. 3547
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a voluntary veteran's employment preference for private
  employers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 23 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 23. VOLUNTARY VETERAN'S EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE FOR PRIVATE
  EMPLOYERS
         Sec. 23.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "veteran" means
  an individual who:
               (1)  has served on active duty in the armed forces of
  the United States; and
               (2)  was honorably discharged from military service.
         Sec. 23.002.  VOLUNTARY PREFERENCE POLICY. (a) A private
  employer may adopt a policy under which the employer may give a
  preference in employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion, or
  retention to a veteran over another qualified applicant or
  employee.
         (b)  A policy adopted under this section must be in writing.
         Sec. 23.003.  APPLICATION OF POLICY. (a) A private employer
  shall apply any policy adopted under this chapter reasonably and in
  good faith in employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion, or
  retention during a reduction in the employer's workforce.
         (b)  A private employer may require appropriate
  documentation from a veteran for the veteran to be eligible for the
  preference under a policy adopted under this chapter.
         (c)  Granting a preference in accordance with a policy
  adopted under this chapter does not violate Chapter 21.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an employment decision made on or after the effective date of
  this Act. An employment decision made before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the decision
  was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3547 was passed by the House on May 8,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 130, Nays 12, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3547 was passed by the Senate on May
  26, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor