79R7601 MXM-D

By:  Naishtat                                                     H.B. No. 3081


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a survey of the employees of health and human services agencies. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.086 to read as follows: Sec. 531.086. EMPLOYEE SURVEY. (a) The executive commissioner shall contract with a person to provide a biennial survey of the employees of health and human services agencies. The person must be independent of the commission and have a successful record of conducting surveys similar to that required under Subsection (b). (b) The survey must solicit opinions from employees at each health and human services agency on workplace issues, including: (1) supervision; (2) fairness; (3) cooperation; (4) diversity; (5) fair pay; (6) the work setting; (7) benefits; (8) employee development; (9) goals and growth of the agency; (10) organizational quality; (11) availability of information, both internally and externally; (12) job satisfaction; (13) hours worked; (14) stress and burnout; and (15) empowerment. (c) The survey must allow employees to respond to the survey manually or by using the Internet, at the employee's option. (d) The identity of an individual employee or the individual responses to the survey may not be revealed to the employing health and human services agency or to any person receiving the reports. The identity of the individual and the individual's responses are confidential and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552 or other law. (e) Not later than one month after conducting a survey, the person conducting the survey shall compile the results and perform an analysis. The analysis must provide an executive summary, comprehensive data, electronic data reports for each agency, and a compilation and comparison of the data across agencies. The person conducting the survey shall report the survey results to: (1) the executive commissioner; (2) the commissioner of each health and human services agency; (3) the governor; (4) the lieutenant governor; (5) the speaker of the house of representatives; (6) the chairs of the standing or select committees of the house of representatives and the senate that have jurisdiction over the commission or other health and human services agencies; (7) the Legislative Budget Board; (8) the state auditor; and (9) the Sunset Advisory Commission. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.