84R7565 AAF-D

By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 508

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the employment of veterans by a public entity or public work of this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 656.027, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 656.027. PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS ON STATE EMPLOYMENT FORMS. The commission shall include on all forms relating to state agency employment that are prescribed by the commission under this subchapter or other law a statement regarding the requirement prescribed by Chapter 657 that each state agency give a veteran's [veterans] employment preference until the agency workforce is composed of at least 20 [40] percent veterans.

SECTION 2. Sections 657.004(a) and (c), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) An individual whose duty is to appoint or employ individuals for a public entity or public work of this state shall give preference in hiring to individuals entitled to a veteran's employment preference so that at least 20 [40] percent of the employees of the public entity or public work are selected from individuals given that preference. A public entity or public work that does not have at least 20 [40] percent of its employees who are entitled to the preference shall, in filling vacancies, give preferences to individuals entitled to a veteran's employment preference until it does have at least 20 [40] percent of its employees who are entitled to the preference.

(c) A public entity or public work that has at least 20 [40] percent of its employees who are entitled to the preference is exempt from the requirements of Section 657.005.

SECTION 3. Section 657.008, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) Not later than December 1 of each year, a public entity shall publish on the entity's Internet website the total number and percentage of the entity's employees who are veterans, as defined by Section 657.002(c).

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.