85R3477 MK-D
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 634
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 has a bachelor's degree. The
department shall give preference to an applicant for a child
protective services caseworker position if the applicant has 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 possess the degree
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, 2017.