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.