BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 588
	By: Lucio; Campbell
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	6/5/2017
	Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 588 originates from the findings of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations (VAMI) 2016 interim hearings and interim report. As documented in VAMI's interim report to the 85th Texas Legislature, although the hiring goal of veterans at Texas state agencies is 20 percent, according to the VAMI report, as of the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, the hiring of veterans was approximately 7.21 percent. "While this is still below the hoped-for 20 percent goal, it is up from the last interim of 2014, when less than five percent of Texas state employees could call themselves veterans."

 

S.B. 588 strengthens and builds on the efforts of S.B. 805 by Senator Campbell, enacted during the 84th Texas Legislature, which allowed private employers to have veteran�s employment preference policies.

 

Specifically, S.B. 588 allows private employers to notify the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) of their veteran�s employment preference policies adopted under S.B. 805 of the 84th Legislature. The bill further provides that TVC and TWC make available on their websites a list of private employers who have provided notice of their veteran�s employment preference policies. 

 

S.B. 588 amends current law relating to information regarding private employers who have veteran's employment preference policies.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, by adding Section 434.024, as follows:

 

Sec. 434.024. INFORMATION REGARDING VETERAN�S EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE POLICIES. Requires the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to make available on its website a list of each private employer who has provided notice under Section 23.002(c), Labor Code, regarding a veteran�s employment preference policy.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 23.002, Labor Code, by adding Subsection (c), to authorize a private employer to provide notice to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or TVC that the employer has adopted a policy under this section.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 301, Labor Code, by adding Section 301.070, as follows:

 

Sec. 301.070. INFORMATION REGARDING VETERAN�S EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE POLICIES. Requires TWC to make available on its website a list of each private employer who has provided notice under Section 23.002(c) regarding a veteran�s employment preference policy.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2017.