BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 5229

By: Wilson

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The spouse of a veteran with an unemployability rating will, in most situations, be the primary income provider for the veteran's family. The 84th Legislature passed S.B. 805, the Military Veterans Full Employment Act, which expanded application of the veterans employment preference and established a goal for state agencies to have 20 percent of their workforces comprised of veterans. Since Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law in 2015, state agencies have made limited progress in reaching that 20 percent goal. H.B. 5229 seeks to address these issues by providing for the eligibility of the spouse of an active duty service member for the veterans employment preference.

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. 5229 amends the Government Code to entitle the spouse of a member of the U.S. armed forces or Texas National Guard serving on active duty to an employment preference for purposes of employment with or appointment to an applicable state agency. The bill grants the spouse priority for that preference after a veteran, with or without a disability, and before a qualifying surviving spouse or qualifying orphan of a veteran. The bill includes military members and their dependents among the persons served by the designated veteran's liaison at each applicable state agency.

H.B. 5229 amends the Penal Code to make a conforming change.

H.B. 5229 applies only to an open position with a state agency for which the state agency begins accepting applications on or after the bill's effective date.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.