QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES PERSONNEL; RECRUITMENT

(a) In hiring department employees whose duties include providing services as part of, or relating to, the provision of adult protective services directly to an elderly person or person with a disability, the commissioner shall ensure that the department hires, as often as possible, persons with professional credentials related to adult protective services, including persons who are licensed master social workers, as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, or licensed professional counselors. (b) Subject to the availability of funds, the executive commissioner by rule shall develop and the department shall implement a recruiting program designed to attract and retain for employment in the adult protective services division persons with professional credentials described by Subsection (a). (c) Subject to the availability of funds, the executive commissioner by rule shall develop and the department shall implement an incentive program to encourage each department employee whose duties include the duties described by Subsection (a) to obtain professional credentials described by that subsection if the employee does not have those credentials.