By: West S.B. No. 2503
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring certain disclosures as part of certain
applications for employment or an internship at a state agency or
the legislature.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 656, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 656.0011 to read as follows:
Sec. 656.0011. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT
OR INTERNSHIPS AT STATE AGENCIES AND LEGISLATURE. (a) In this
section, "state agency" has the meaning assigned by Section
656.021.
(b) A state agency or legislature shall require a student
enrolled at a public higher education institution or who graduated
from an institution of higher education during the preceding five
years and who applies for an employee or intern position at the
state institution or agency to disclose as part of the application
whether the applicant has:
(1) ever been accused of or found to have violated the
institution's student code of conduct for engaging in conduct that
constitutes an offense under:
(A) Chapter 19 (criminal homicide), Penal Code;
(B) Section 21.11 (indecency with a child),
22.011 (sexual assault), 22.012 (indecent assault), 22.021
(aggravated sexual assault), or 25.02 (prohibited sexual conduct),
Penal Code;
(C) Section 22.01 (assault) or 22.02 (aggravated
assault), Penal Code;
(D) Section 28.02 (arson), 28.03 (criminal
mischief), or 28.08 (graffiti), Penal Code;
(E) Section 29.02 (robbery) or 29.03 (aggravated
robbery), Penal Code;
(F) Section 42.072 (stalking), Penal Code; or
(G) an offense under the laws of another state or
federal law that is equivalent to an offense described by Paragraph
(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F);
(2) ever been arrested for or convicted of an offense
described by Subdivision (1);
(3) within the preceding five years, been the subject
of or respondent to an investigation or disciplinary action under
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Section 1681
et seq.) related to sexual misconduct; and
(4) ever, for reasons other than academic performance,
been suspended or expelled from an institution of higher education
or a private institution of higher education.
(c) A person who fails to disclose or falsely discloses
information required under Subsection (b) may be:
(1) disqualified from further consideration for the
position; or
(2) if employed, terminated from employment.
(d) Information disclosed under Subsection (b) is
confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code.
(e) The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts shall:
(1) adopt rules as necessary to administer this
section; and
(2) in coordination with institutions of higher
education, develop guidelines for verifying the information
disclosed under Subsection (b).
SECTION 2. Section 656.0011, Government Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with applications for an employee or
intern position posted by a state agency or legislature on or after
November 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. 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, 2025.