Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4351 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R12663 LRM-F
2	2	By: Dutton H.B. No. 4351
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to postsecondary degree requirements in hiring and
10	10	contracting by governmental entities.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended
13	13	by adding Chapter 621 to read as follows:
14	14	CHAPTER 621. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC EMPLOYEE POSITIONS
15	15	Sec. 621.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
16	16	(1) "Direct experience" means any verifiable,
17	17	previous work experience in which:
18	18	(A) the applicant's primary duties were
19	19	consistent with the primary duties of the vacant position; or
20	20	(B) the skills necessary to perform the
21	21	applicant's primary duties are transferable to the vacant position.
22	22	(2) "Postsecondary degree" means an associate's,
23	23	bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degree from an
24	24	accredited institution of higher education.
25	25	(3) "Public employer" means a state agency or a
26	26	political subdivision of this state, including a municipality and
27	27	county, that seeks to hire an individual for a vacant position.
28	28	Sec. 621.002. ALTERNATIVE TO POSTSECONDARY DEGREE
29	29	REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYERS. (a) A public employer may
30	30	establish for a vacant position as an alternative to a
31	31	postsecondary degree requirement a specific number of years of
32	32	direct experience in a similar position not to exceed:
33	33	(1) two years of direct experience for an associate's
34	34	degree;
35	35	(2) four years of direct experience for a bachelor's
36	36	degree;
37	37	(3) six years of direct experience for a master's
38	38	degree;
39	39	(4) seven years of direct experience for a
40	40	professional degree; or
41	41	(5) nine years of direct experience for a doctoral
42	42	degree.
43	43	(b) A public employer may not substitute direct experience
44	44	under this section for a licensure, certification, or registration
45	45	requirement for a vacant position that is included in
46	46	advertisements for the position.
47	47	(c) A public employer that elects to substitute direct
48	48	experience for a postsecondary degree requirement for a vacant
49	49	position must include in all advertisements for the position notice
50	50	of the substitution opportunity and a description of the experience
51	51	eligible for substitution.
52	52	SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 2252, Government Code, is
53	53	amended by adding Section 2252.911 to read as follows:
54	54	Sec. 2252.911. POSTSECONDARY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR
55	55	CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES. (a) In this section:
56	56	(1) "Direct experience" has the meaning assigned by
57	57	Section 621.001.
58	58	(2) "Governmental entity" has the meaning assigned by
59	59	Section 2252.001.
60	60	(3) "Postsecondary degree" has the meaning assigned by
61	61	Section 621.001.
62	62	(b) This section applies only to a contract for services.
63	63	(c) A governmental entity may establish for services
64	64	performed under a contract as an alternative to a postsecondary
65	65	degree requirement a specific number of years of direct experience
66	66	if the person providing the services under the contract is
67	67	otherwise qualified to provide the contracted services.
68	68	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.