1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring state agencies to perform exit interviews
 1-3     with employees.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 651, Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Section 651.007 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 651.007.  EXIT INTERVIEWS.  (a)  In this section, "state
 1-8     agency" means a board, commission, council, committee, department,
 1-9     office, agency, or other governmental entity in the executive,
1-10     legislative, or judicial branch of state government.  The term does
1-11     not include an institution of higher education as defined by
1-12     Section 61.003, Education Code.
1-13           (b)  Each state agency shall conduct an exit interview with
1-14     an employee who leaves employment with the agency.  The state
1-15     agency shall conduct the exit interview by having the employee
1-16     access the questionnaire posted on the state auditor's Internet
1-17     site and electronically submit the completed questionnaire to the
1-18     state auditor.
1-19           (c)  The state agency shall conduct the exit interview in a
1-20     manner that allows the employee alone to describe the employee's
1-21     reason for leaving employment.  The state agency may not alter the
1-22     description stated by the employee.
1-23           (d)  The state auditor shall develop the exit interview
1-24     questionnaire.  In developing the questionnaire under this
1-25     subsection, the state auditor shall consult with the comptroller
 2-1     and representatives designated by the comptroller from small,
 2-2     medium, and large state agencies.
 2-3           (e)  Not later than the 15th day following the end of the
 2-4     calendar quarter, the state auditor shall submit a report to each
 2-5     state agency containing the responses to the exit interview
 2-6     questionnaire submitted by each former employee of the agency
 2-7     during the preceding quarter.  The state auditor's report may not
 2-8     contain the name of an employee or any other information
 2-9     identifying the employee.
2-10           (f)  A state agency may not share the responses to an exit
2-11     interview questionnaire with another state agency.
2-12           (g)  The responses to an exit interview questionnaire are
2-13     confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.  The
2-14     responses may be disclosed only to a law enforcement agency in a
2-15     criminal investigation or on order of a court.
2-16           (h)  The state auditor may audit each state agency's records
2-17     to determine whether the agency is complying with the requirements
2-18     of this section.
2-19           (i)  Not later than December 15 of each year before a regular
2-20     session of the legislature, the state auditor shall submit a report
2-21     summarizing the findings of the exit interviews to the governor,
2-22     lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
2-23     members of the Senate Committee on Finance and House Committee on
2-24     Appropriations.
2-25           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 799 passed the Senate on
         March 21, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 799 passed the House on
         May 23, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor