HB1366 - Relating to limiting the duration of employment of certain state employees.

  89R3739 JCG-D     By: Tepper H.B. No. 1366       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to limiting the duration of employment of certain state   employees.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 651, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 651.011 to read as follows:           Sec.   651.011.     LIMITATION ON EMPLOYMENT DURATION FOR CERTAIN   STATE EMPLOYEES. (a)   In this section:                 (1)     "Faculty member" means a person who is employed by   an institution of higher education on a full-time basis as a member   of the faculty or staff and whose primary duties include teaching or   research.                 (2)  "State agency" means:                       (A)     a department, commission, board, office,   council, authority, or other agency in the executive branch of   state government that is created by the constitution or a statute of   this state, including a university system or institution of higher   education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or                       (B)     either house of the legislature or a   legislative agency, council, or committee, including the   Legislative Budget Board, the Texas Legislative Council, the State   Auditor's Office, and the Legislative Reference Library.                 (3)     "State employee" means a person who is employed by   a state agency. The term does not include an elected official.           (b)  This section does not apply to a faculty member.           (c)     A person may not be employed as a state employee for one   or more periods that cumulatively exceed 24 years.   The governing   body of the employing state agency shall immediately terminate the   employment of a person who becomes ineligible for employment under   this subsection.           (d)     For purposes of determining a person's ineligibility   for employment under this section, only the length of the person's   employment after January 1, 2026, may be considered.          SECTION 2.  If an employment relationship described by   Section 651.011, Government Code, as added by this Act, is governed   by an employment contract that was entered into before the   effective date of this Act, this Act only applies to any renewal of   that contract occurring on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only   if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,   Regular Session, 2025, to limit the time that a person may serve as   a member of the Texas Legislature, a statewide elected officer in   the executive branch, or a state employee in the legislative or   executive branch of state government is approved by the voters.  If   that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no   effect.