86R2080 MCK-D
 
  By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 141
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to minimum education requirements for child protective
  services caseworkers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 40.0324 to read as follows:
         Sec. 40.0324.  MINIMUM CASEWORKER EDUCATION REQUIREMENT.
  The department may not hire a person to be a child protective
  services caseworker unless the person holds a bachelor's degree.
  The department shall give preference to an applicant for a child
  protective services caseworker position if the applicant holds a
  bachelor's degree or an advanced degree in social work conferred by
  a college or university accredited by an accrediting organization
  recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
         SECTION 2.  Section 40.0324, Human Resources Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a child protective services caseworker
  hired by the Department of Family and Protective Services on or
  after the effective date of this Act.  A caseworker hired before the
  effective date of this Act is not required to hold a bachelor's
  degree as required by Section 40.0324, Human Resources Code, as
  added by this Act, as long as the person remains employed by the
  Department of Family and Protective Services as a caseworker.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.