HIRING WOMEN AND MINORITIES.

(a) To provide adequate numbers of women and minority applicants for all positions in the department, the department shall:

(1) open all positions compensated at or above the amount prescribed by the General Appropriations Act for salary group B17 of the position classification salary schedule to applicants from inside and outside the department;

(2) seek applicants from this state and, if sufficient numbers are not available from this state, from other states;

(3) coordinate recruiting efforts with college placement officers and college student organizations;

(4) develop an extensive cooperative education program with colleges; and

(5) ensure that employees are aware of continuing educational opportunities and encourage employee participation in the programs.

(b) The department shall designate a central authority to set and monitor women and minority hiring goals. After consultation with appropriate persons in each division and regional office, the central authority shall set annual women and minority hiring goals in each division and regional office of the department and shall monitor progress toward those goals. The central authority shall provide recruiting and technical assistance to each division and regional office.

(c) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1083, Sec. 25(160), eff. June 17, 2011.

(d) In this section, "minority" includes African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, Alaska natives, and Pacific Islanders.