bill requiring conduct disclosures on state job applications

The text as introduced · 517 words

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.