By: Raymond (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 753
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2011;
May 9, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
and Human Services; May 18, 2011, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 18, 2011, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the recruitment and retention of certain caseworkers
employed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Sections 40.0327 and 40.0328 to read as
follows:
Sec. 40.0327. PREEMPLOYMENT ASSESSMENT; PREFERENCE.
(a) The department shall use special assessment tools in screening
applicants for employment with the child protective services
division in order to match an applicant with the position in the
division for which an applicant would be best suited based on the
applicant's skills, personality traits, and experience.
(b) The department shall give favorable consideration to an
applicant for an entry-level caseworker position who has a master's
degree or bachelor's degree in social work over other applicants
who have comparable skills.
Sec. 40.0328. SALARY STUDY. (a) The department shall study
the salaries of each type of child protective services caseworker
to determine the role salary plays in the recruitment and retention
of caseworkers and in the turnover rate for each type of caseworker.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2012, the department shall
report the results of the study and any recommendations to the
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and standing committee of each house of the
legislature with jurisdiction over the department.
(c) The commission shall consider contracting with an
institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003,
Education Code, to perform the study required by this section.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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