By: Larson, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Campbell) H.B. No. 3547
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2015;
May 12, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran
Affairs and Military Installations; May 21, 2015, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 21, 2015, sent
to printer.)
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
CampbellX
BurtonX
BirdwellX
GarciaX
HallX
LucioX
RodrÃguezX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a voluntary veteran's employment preference for private
employers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 23 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 23. VOLUNTARY VETERAN'S EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE FOR PRIVATE
EMPLOYERS
Sec. 23.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "veteran" means
an individual who:
(1) has served on active duty in the armed forces of
the United States; and
(2) was honorably discharged from military service.
Sec. 23.002. VOLUNTARY PREFERENCE POLICY. (a) A private
employer may adopt a policy under which the employer may give a
preference in employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion, or
retention to a veteran over another qualified applicant or
employee.
(b) A policy adopted under this section must be in writing.
Sec. 23.003. APPLICATION OF POLICY. (a) A private employer
shall apply any policy adopted under this chapter reasonably and in
good faith in employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion, or
retention during a reduction in the employer's workforce.
(b) A private employer may require appropriate
documentation from a veteran for the veteran to be eligible for the
preference under a policy adopted under this chapter.
(c) Granting a preference in accordance with a policy
adopted under this chapter does not violate Chapter 21.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an employment decision made on or after the effective date of
this Act. An employment decision made before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the decision
was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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