85R1653 MK-D By: RodrÃguez S.B. No. 429 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 or an advanced degree in social work or another field related to human services conferred by a college or university accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. SECTION 2. Section 40.0326, Human Resources Code, is repealed. SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.