HB512 - Relating to the establishment of state agency grievance procedures for state agency employees.

  89R1412 SCP-F     By: Cortez H.B. No. 512       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of state agency grievance procedures   for state agency employees.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 674 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 674. EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES           Sec. 674.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                 (1)     "Agency employee" means an individual, other than   a state officer, who is employed by a state agency.                 (2)  "State agency" means:                       (A)     a department, commission, board, office, or   other agency in the executive branch of state government that was   created by the Texas Constitution or a statute of this state,   including a university system or an institution of higher education   as those terms are defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, other   than a public junior college as defined by Section 61.003,   Education Code;                       (B)  the legislature or a legislative agency; or                       (C)     the supreme court, the court of criminal   appeals, a court of appeals, the state bar, or another state   judicial agency.           Sec.   674.002.     AGENCY EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. (a)   The executive head of each state agency by rule shall establish a   grievance procedure for agency employees. The procedure must allow   an agency employee to appeal an employment action taken by the   agency regarding:                 (1)     a disciplinary action imposed on the employee,   including:                       (A)  an oral or written reprimand;                       (B)  a demotion;                       (C)  a suspension;                       (D)  a reduction in compensation; and                       (E)  a termination for cause and at will; or                 (2)     the employee's compensation or working conditions,   including the hours the employee is required to work.           (b)     An appeal made under this section is considered to be a   contested case under Chapter 2001.          SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive   head of each state agency shall adopt rules necessary to implement   Chapter 674, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.