By Ellis H.B. No. 2247 77R7588 GWK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to establishing an exit interview process for employees of 1-3 the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal 1-4 Justice. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-7 Section 493.0071 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 493.0071. EMPLOYEE EXIT INTERVIEWS. (a) The department 1-9 shall adopt a policy that provides for an exit interview of each 1-10 institutional division employee who terminates employment with the 1-11 department. Employee participation in the interview process is 1-12 voluntary, and the department is not required to conduct an exit 1-13 interview of an employee who is terminated against the employee's 1-14 will. 1-15 (b) The department in conducting the interview shall ask the 1-16 employee the reasons for which the employee is leaving. The 1-17 employee must be asked whether a significant factor in the 1-18 employee's decision to terminate employment was: 1-19 (1) an assault against the employee or another 1-20 employee or threats of violence against the employee or another 1-21 employee; 1-22 (2) inadequate pay or benefits; 1-23 (3) a poor relationship with a supervisor; 1-24 (4) sexual harassment; 2-1 (5) the lack of a fair grievance procedure; 2-2 (6) a lack of training; or 2-3 (7) any other cause. 2-4 (c) The department shall instruct the employee that in 2-5 responding to the questions under Subsection (b), the employee may 2-6 answer as many questions in the affirmative as the employee thinks 2-7 appropriate. The department shall encourage the employee to state 2-8 in the employee's own words the reasons for which the employee is 2-9 terminating employment. 2-10 (d) The department shall analyze responses to interviews 2-11 conducted under this section on the basis of the responding 2-12 employees' age, gender, race or ethnicity, years of service, rank, 2-13 and duty locations. 2-14 SECTION 2. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall 2-15 adopt an exit interview policy, as required by Section 493.0071, 2-16 Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than October 1, 2-17 2001, and shall offer each employee who terminates employment with 2-18 the department on or after that date an opportunity to participate 2-19 in the interview.