88R6305 LRM-D     By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2066       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)   and (g) 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 described by Section 656.028 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.          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 Texas Workforce Commission 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 identified under this subsection and submit the   list to the Texas Workforce Commission.          (c)  The Texas Workforce Commission shall review each list of   skills submitted under Subsection (b) and determine the skills   shared across state agency classified positions.  The commission   shall develop, in consultation with state agencies, a standardized   aptitude test to determine whether a job applicant has the shared   skills. The commission 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 state agency   employment applications system 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 the career education and training programs and 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 Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules   necessary to implement this section.          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 to the Texas Workforce   Commission not later than December 1, 2024.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.