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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a hiring freeze of nonessential personnel employed by a |
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state agency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. HIRING FREEZE. (a) In this Act, "state agency" |
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means a public entity in the executive branch of state government |
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eligible under law to receive an appropriation. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this Act, during |
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the state fiscal biennium that ends August 31, 2019, a state agency |
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may not: |
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(1) fill the position of an employee if the position: |
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(A) is vacant on September 1, 2017; or |
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(B) becomes vacant after September 1, 2017; or |
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(2) divert to any other use money appropriated for the |
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salary, wages, or benefits attributable to a position described by |
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Subdivision (1) of this subsection. |
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(c) On September 1, 2019, the comptroller shall deposit any |
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unexpended money appropriated for salary, wages, or benefits for a |
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vacant position to which Subsection (b) of this Act applies to the |
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credit of the fund or account from which the money was appropriated. |
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(d) A state agency may fill a vacant position described by |
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Subsection (b) of this Act and use to fill that position money |
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appropriated for the salary, wages, or benefits attributable to the |
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position only if the agency first determines that the position is |
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critically related to the agency's ability to perform its core |
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function. On such determination the agency shall: |
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(1) notify the governor and members of the Legislative |
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Budget Board of the nature of the critical vacancy; and |
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(2) provide other information relating to the critical |
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vacancy to the governor or members of the Legislative Budget Board |
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on request. |
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(e) Once a state agency provides notice of a critical |
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vacancy under Subsection (d) of this Act, the agency is not required |
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to provide notice before filling the position in the event of a |
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subsequent vacancy. |
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SECTION 2. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2017. |