Sec. 493.016. INFORMATION OF PUBLIC INTEREST; COMPLAINTS. (a) The department shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the department and the procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the department. The department shall make the information available to the general public and appropriate state agencies.

(b) The department shall establish methods by which interested persons are notified of the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the department for the purpose of directing complaints to the department.

(c) The department shall keep an information file on each written complaint filed with the department by a member of the general public that relates to the operations of the department. The file must include:

(1) the name of the person who filed the complaint;

(2) the date the complaint is received by the department;

(3) the subject matter of the complaint;

(4) the name of each person contacted in relation to the complaint;

(5) a summary of the results of the review or investigation of the complaint; and

(6) an explanation of the reason the file was closed, if the agency closed the file without taking action other than to investigate the complaint.

(d) The department shall provide a written copy of the department's policies and procedures relating to complaint investigation and resolution to:

(1) all department employees; and

(2) each person filing a complaint.

(e) The department, at least quarterly until final disposition of the complaint, shall notify the person filing the complaint of the status of the investigation unless the notice would jeopardize an undercover investigation.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 321, Sec. 1.010, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1188, Sec. 1.11, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.