SRC-JBJ H.B. 2247 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2247
77R8718 GWK-FBy: Ellis, Dan (Staples)
Criminal Justice
5/9/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (department) is facing
a shortage of employees in its institutional division, particularly a
shortage of prison guards.  H.B. 2247 requires the department to establish
an exit interview policy for each institutional division employee who
terminates employment.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 493, Government Code, by adding Section
493.0071, as follows: 

Sec. 493.0071.  EMPLOYEE EXIT INTERVIEWS.  (a)  Requires the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (department) to adopt a policy that provides
for an exit interview of each institutional division employee who
terminates employment with the department.  Provides that employee
participation in the interview process is voluntary, and the department is
not required to conduct an exit interview of an employee who is terminated
against the employee's will. 

(b)  Requires the department to encourage the employee to state in the
employee's own words the reasons for which the employee is  terminating
employment. 

(c)  Requires the department to analyze responses to interviews conducted
under this section on the basis of  the responding employees' age, gender,
race or ethnicity, years of service, rank, and duty locations. 
 
SECTION 2.  Requires the department to adopt an exit interview policy, as
required by Section 493.0071, Government Code, as added by this Act, not
later than October 1, 2001, and to offer each employee who terminates
employment with the department on or after that date an opportunity to
participate in the interview. 
 
SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.