BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1773

By: Guillen

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Transitioning back to civilian life and finding a job is a difficult task for many military veterans and their families, and is exceptionally difficult for a veteran with a disability. To assist veterans in this transition, the state employs a veteran preference system among similarly qualified candidates through which a veteran is granted an employment preference for an open position in state government over a similarly qualified nonveteran. The system provides preferences for veterans, veterans with disabilities, and unmarried spouses of deceased veterans, but it does not include the primary breadwinner for the household of a disabled veteran. H.B. 1773 seeks to grant these individuals the preference they deserve by extending eligibility for the employment preference system to individuals serving as the primary source of income for veterans who are totally disabled and receive certain federal benefits.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 1773 amends the Government Code to entitle an individual who resides in a household with a veteran to a veteran's employment preference for purposes of employment with or appointment to an applicable state agency if the individual is the primary source of income for the household and the veteran has a total disability rating based either on having a service‑connected disability with a disability rating of 100 percent or on individual unemployability and is receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance. The bill, with respect to that individual entitled to the employment preference, does the following:

·         grants the individual priority for that preference after a veteran, with or without a disability, and a qualifying surviving spouse or qualifying orphan of a veteran; and

·         requires the individual, if applying for an appointment or employment, to furnish the official records to the individual whose duty it is to fill the position.

 

H.B. 1773 applies only to an open position with a state agency for which the agency begins accepting applications on or after the bill's effective date.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2023.