bill for one standard aptitude test for state jobs

The text as introduced · 724 words

89R7697 LRM-D

By: Bettencourt
S.B. No. 1441

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state agency employment openings and aptitude

assessments.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 656.002, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (b), (c), and (e) and adding Subsections (f),

(g), and (h) to read as follows:

(b) The online system for listing state agency employment

openings maintained by the Texas Workforce Commission must allow an

applicant for employment to :

(1) complete a single state application and the

standardized aptitude test online ; and

(2) enter the application and the standardized

aptitude test into an online database from which the applicant may

electronically send the application and the standardized aptitude

test to multiple state agencies.

(c) The Texas Workforce Commission shall:

(1) prescribe a standard electronic format for the

online application and standardized aptitude test described by

Subsection (b); and

(2) ensure that the commission's online system allows

an applicant to submit and a state agency to receive an online

application and the standardized aptitude test for state agency

employment.

(e) This section does not prohibit a state agency from

accepting an application for an employment opening , the

standardized aptitude test, or a specialized aptitude test in a

manner other than the manner described by this section.

(f) The online system must inform an applicant that the

applicant is not required to complete the standardized aptitude

test to apply for an employment opening.

(g) The online system must list the classified positions for

which the standardized aptitude test will be accepted.

(h) In this section, "specialized aptitude test" and

"standardized aptitude test" have the meanings assigned by Section

656.028.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 656, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 656.028 to read as follows:

Sec. 656.028. APTITUDE ASSESSMENTS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Career education and training program" has the

meaning assigned by Section 2308A.001.

(2) "Specialized aptitude test" means an assessment of

the competencies and skills needed for a specific state agency

position that are not measured by the standardized aptitude test,

including a skills demonstration, skills-based questionnaire,

skills-based interview, and any other valid skills measurement

strategy.

(3) "Standardized aptitude test" means the uniform

assessment that measures the skill set of a job applicant developed

by the state auditor under this section.

(b) Each state agency shall at least once each calendar year

review each classified position in the state agency to determine

the skills needed for each position. The state agency shall compile

a list of skills for each position identified under this subsection

and submit the list to the state auditor.

(c) The state auditor shall review each list of skills for

each position submitted under Subsection (b) and determine the

skills shared across state agency classified positions. The state

auditor shall develop, in consultation with state agencies, a

standardized aptitude test to determine whether a job applicant has

the shared skills. The state auditor may contract with a person

that specializes in certification of occupation-based skills

assessments to develop, certify, or evaluate the results of the

standardized aptitude test.

(d) The Texas Workforce Commission shall make the

standardized aptitude test available on the online system for

listing state agency employment openings described by Section

656.002.

(e) If a state agency determines a specialized aptitude test

would improve the agency's hiring process, the agency must consult

with the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative established by Chapter

2308A to align career education and training programs and the state

workforce development strategies developed under Section 2308A.006

with the competencies and skills measured by the test.

(f) A state agency may not consider the fact that an

applicant for employment did not complete the standardized aptitude

test in making a hiring determination.

(g) The state auditor shall adopt rules necessary to

implement this section, including rules that require a state agency

to accept the standardized aptitude test as an alternative to a

hiring requirement that relates to an applicant's education or

experience, as determined appropriate by the state auditor.

SECTION 3. Each state agency shall complete the initial

review required by Section 656.028(b), Government Code, as added by

this Act, and submit the list of skills for each position to the

state auditor not later than December 1, 2026.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.