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.