HBA-BSM S.B. 1519 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1519 By: Lucio Transportation 5/7/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is experiencing some difficulty recruiting and retaining engineering staff. Senate Bill 1519 requires TxDOT to take necessary actions to accelerate the employment of necessary engineers and engineering technicians, and allows TxDOT to hire those employees without posting job openings or competitive selection of job applicants. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 1519 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation to take necessary action to accelerate the employment of necessary engineers and engineering technicians. The bill provides that a law requiring posting of job openings or competitive selection of job applicants does not apply to those positions, regardless of the salary applicable to the position. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.